Charlo easily dethrones boxing's oldest champ
Undefeated Jermall Charlo wrested the IBF junior middleweight title from 42-year-old Cornelius Bundrage, dethroning boxing's oldest current champion with dominating a third-round stoppage in Connecticut.
The 25-year-old Charlo, who improved to 22-0, knocked Bundrage down four times before referee Johnny Callas put an end to the carnage at 2:33 of the third round.
"You never put a dog in a pen with a lion," Charlo said.
Charlo sent fellow American Bundrage to the canvas once in round one, once in round two and twice in the third at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino.
Callas had seen enough by the fourth knockdown waving off the fight without a count.
Bundrage (34-6, 19 KOs) failed to muster any kind of offence or keep the younger Charlo at bay.
Detroit's Bundrage was boxing's oldest current world champion and the oldest junior middleweight world champ in history.
Charlo pressed the attack, taking advantage of his six-inch reach advantage to land a sharp overhand for the first knockdown. He dropped the champ in a heap with a straight left in round two and then unloaded on him again with another barrage in the final round.
"I've finally made it to the championship status. To be classified as a world champion, it's history," Charlo said.
Bundrage landed just 20 of 73 punches as he suffered his second defeat in four fights.
"You win some, you lose some. I was in there with a good fighter who has been active and is hungry," Bundrage said.
On the same card, former World Boxing Organization middleweight champion Peter Quillin scored a fifth round knockout over Australian Michael Zerafa.