Jermall Charlo demolishes Cornelius Bundrage in three rounds to claim IBF title

Jermall Charlo made quite a statement in his first title opportunity.

The 25-year-old made quick work of Cornelius Bundrage to wrest the IBF junior middleweight title Saturday at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Conn. Charlo started fast and dropped Bundrage, 42, in the opening round and then scored three more knockdowns to earn the stoppage at 2:33 of Round 3.

After Bundrage tasted the canvas for the fourth time, the referee waved the bout without a count. It was clear Bundrage was in over his head, and was never in the PBC on NBC fight.

"I'm the champ of the world, baby - of the world," a jubilant Charlo said, flanked by twin brother Jermell, a contender in the same weight class. "You never put a dog in the pen with a lion. I am the future of boxing."

Charlo dropped Bundrage (34-6, 19 KOs) with a chopping, counter right hand in Round 1. Bundrage didn't seem hurt, was unable to keep the challenger off him. Charlo continued to press forward with a barrage of shots, putting his six-inch reach advantage to good use.

The Houston, Texas, resident pinned "K9" in the corner in Round 2 and unloaded on him until the veteran dropped in a heap. Again Bundrage was able to shake it off, but never landed any punches of note.

Charlo dropped Bundrage twice more in Round 4, and the referee had seen enough, wisely halting the bout and crowning a new champion.

"He was pretty sharp, i hadn't fought in nine months so I was a little rusty, I couldn't get my feet planted," said Bundrage, who was the oldest man in boxing with a world title prior to the defeat. But he fought a good fight and I wish him the best.

"I just gotta stay active, especially competing with young guys like that. He's a better fighter than I thought he was. He did take care of business like he's supposed to. I'll be back. I'm going to keep making history. Oldest junior middleweight champion of all time, but I'll be back."

Bundrage landed just 20 of 73 punches in the bout, while the victor connected on 33 of 107. With his second defeat in four fights and at 42 years of age, the former Contender should think long and hard about hanging the gloves up.