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Cory Spinks & B.J. Flores
Win In Springfield, Mo.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—Five-time world champion Cory Spinks won a
unanimous decision over Sechew Powell on Saturday at the
Shrine Mosque in Springfield, Mo., in an elimination bout to
determine the IBF junior middleweight No. 1 ranking, and
hometown cruiserweight B.J. Flores moved closer to a world
title match by stopping Colombian veteran Hugo Pineda.
Spinks (39-6, 11 KOs), a former undisputed welterweight
champion and subsequent two-time IBF junior middleweight
champion, had been thought by some to be near the end of his
career after losing the IBF 154-pound crown to Cornelius
“K9” Bundrage in 2010.
Spinks rededicated himself to the sport but was still the
underdog entering the ring this past weekend to face Powell
(26-3, 15 KOs), the IBF No. 5-ranked contender. Spinks swept
all three judges’ scorecards 116-112 and 115-113, twice.
“I was in perfect condition and felt like I could do
anything I wanted during the fight,” Spinks said. “Powell
thought he was going to pressure me, that I would be old and
run from him. I think he was surprised when I stood toe to
toe with him and was the one bringing the pressure.
“He became more aggressive in rounds six and seven, and a
local reporter wrote that I was in trouble, but Powell
didn’t give me anything I couldn’t handle. I knew he was
swinging for the fences in those rounds, so I let him go
because I wasn’t going anywhere.”
Spinks also noted that he feels like a young fighter.
“I’m only 33 years old, I feel like new money right now,”
Spinks said. “I performed well in this fight, my second
match with new manager Scott Hirsch and trainer Anthony Ham.
I’ve won five world titles, I have a name and I think I
bring a lot to the table for a marquee name, a world
championship fight or both.”
Promoter Don King attended the fight and was impressed.
“Sechew Powell is a good, dangerous fighter, and certainly
no light touch for Cory,” King said. “I was proud of him on
Saturday night.
“When he trains right and applies himself to the sport both
mentally and physically, there is no question he poses a
significant threat to anyone at or near 154 pounds.”
Trainer Anthony Ham was pleased with Spinks’ performance as
well.
“Cory was in the best shape of his life,” Ham said. “He
dominated the fight with his jab and right hook. This is our
second fight together, and I feel like Cory has won 20 of
the 22 rounds since we teamed up. I think he will be even
better in his next fight.”
Manager Scott Hirsch said he had a reason for wanting to
work with Spinks.
“I felt the reports a few years ago of Cory’s demise were
greatly exaggerated,” Hirsch said. “I agreed to work with
him because I felt he was just too good and had a lot left
in his tank. He proved me right on Saturday against one of
the best fighters in his division. The Spinks Jinx is back
and ready to wreak further havoc in boxing.”
Highly ranked cruiserweight B.J. Flores (27-1-1, 17 KOs)
availed himself well against notable veteran Hugo Pineda
(39-6-1, 28 KOs). Flores’ supporters from his hometown of
Springfield, Mo., filled the historic Shrine Mosque, and
Flores gave them what they came to see.
“I was calculated but aggressive in the first few rounds,”
Flores said. “By the third, I knew where I was going to go.
I cut him over the right eye in the second round with a left
hook, and I floored him in the fourth. Every time I hit him
I felt like I hurt him.
“I was going up and down with punches to the head and body,
which confused him. Then I caught him with a good straight
right hand for a knockdown in the fourth round. He barely
made it up from that.”
Flores wobbled Pineda again in the fifth round before
Pineda’s corner threw in the towel near the end of the
sixth.
Promoter Don King liked what he saw in Springfield, Mo.
“I give B.J. a lot of credit,” King said. “He’s built a big
following for himself in Springfield, and he gave the crowd
a good show.
“I enjoyed the people in Springfield and B.J. wants big
fights and a world title shot, so the Show Me State is
definitely in the mix.”
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