Q & A with Leonard Bundu

This Saturday on the undercard of the Arthur Abraham-Mahir Oral Middleweight title fight from Berlin, unbeaten fighter Leonard Bundu 18-0-1(6) of Italy by way of Sierre Leone will bid to make his first defence of the European Union Welterweight crown against Berlin based Frank Shabani 17-0(6). Bundu 34, is a former 2000 Olympian where he beat Daneil Geale in the first round before going out in the second round.

Hello Leonard, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright - When we met in Helsinki (The aborted Chagaev-Valuev card) you were due to fight Frank Shabani. I believe this is now been rescheduled, where and when will it take place?

Leonard Bundu - It will be taking place in Berlin, Germany on the 27th of June.

Anson Wainwright - Do you know much about Shabani?

Leonard Bundu - Well, I’ve seen a couple of his fights against my Italian colleagues. I think he’s a good boxer,seems fast and has good boxing skills.

Anson Wainwright - How has the delay effected training? Where are you training for this fight?

Leonard Bundu - I’m training in my hometown in Florence, Italy. The Delay was a big disappointment but i got over it and used the extra time to perfect my physical and tactical conditions.

Anson Wainwright - Who is in team Bundu, your trainer, manager & promoter?

Leonard Bundu - My manager and promoter is Mario Loreni and son. My coach is Alessandro Boncinelli with whom I’ve been with since I began boxing.

Anson Wainwright - Your 34 now but have only been a pro for 3 years why the late start to fighting professionally?

Leonard Bundu - When I started I always loved the amateur boxing a whole lot more than the pros. I used to watch all the top amateur events and olympic boxing tapes as a kid, so when I started boxing for the Italian national team I was just were i wanted to be and i had no intentions of turning pro. Later in 2004 I eventually quit boxing, but after a year without my favorite sport (at age 30) I still felt the need to boxe and professional boxing was a new “stimulant” for me.

Anson Wainwright - You were born in Sierra Leone, what can you tell us about the path your life has taken from your homeland to where you now live in Italy?

Leonard Bundu - I had other plans rather than becoming a full-time boxer but once i left Sierra Leone I got caught up with this sport and that left me little time to do something different. Anyway my life here in Italy has been great, I have a wonderful family with two kids and I couldn’t ask for more.

Anson Wainwright - How did you get into Boxing?

Leonard Bundu - I started because there was a boxing gym close to where i lived, I had just left S.Leone and I thought it would be a nice start to get to know peaople and make some friends.

Anson Wainwright - What do you like to do away from Boxing?

Leonard Bundu - I love to travel, see different places and eat good food (and that’s a big problem with boxing, hahaha! )

Anson Wainwright - What are your goals on Boxing?

Leonard Bundu - Becoming the European Champ is my objective, then whatever comes more than that will be greatly welcomed.

Anson Wainwright - There are several big fights in Italy for you Daniele Petrucci, Gianluca Branco & Michele Di Rocco plus a few others, what do you think of these guys?

Leonard Bundu - I Have known most of them since the amateurs and I think we’re all around the same level. A fight between us would be greatly appreciated by the Italian fans but that would become a reality only if there would be a major title to fight for.

Good luck in your upcoming fight Leonard.

Thank you, the readers and 15rounds.com for this oppurtunity.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com