Favorable decision stunning to Smith

Ishe Smith immediately feared the worst when ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. uttered the words “split decision” on Saturday night.

After all, the born-and-raised Las Vegan has suffered so much heartbreak during a 13-year professional boxing career, he’s well conditioned to think that way.

Smith, 34, knew he faced long odds to win a 12-round decision over IBF junior middleweight champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage in Bundrage’s hometown of Detroit.

“I thought, ‘Oh, my God, here we go again,’ ’’ he said.

When Lennon announced the scores moments later, Smith was crying tears of joy, not disappointment.

He was stunned to be on the right side of the decision at Masonic Temple Theatre. Judges Herb Santos of Reno and Gerard White from Michigan both scored it 116-111 in Smith’s favor, while Iowa’s Dave Hess scored it for Bundrage, 114-113.

Smith (25-5) became the first native Las Vegas boxer to win a world title.

“I asked my corner, ‘Did I win?’ and they said, ‘Of course you did,’ ’’ Smith said Sunday after arriving back in Las Vegas. “Then when I heard the second 116-111 score, I knew they couldn’t give it to (Bundrage).

“It’s been so surreal. I haven’t even slept yet.”

Smith’s opportunity almost slipped away. Two weeks before the fight, he suffered a bruised left rib cage in training. Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose company promotes Smith, offered him a chance to postpone or cancel the fight.

“Floyd asked me if I wanted to pull out, but I knew I couldn’t give up,” Smith said. “This was the biggest moment of my life. This was my chance to become a world champion.”

Smith has a tendency to start slow, and that was the case again Saturday, but it was more out of caution over his ribs. In the second round, he slipped and fell to the canvas. Bundrage took a swing at Smith while he was down and referee Sam Williams deducted a point from Bundrage. In the fourth round, Smith landed a solid right to Bundrage’s head late, and it seemed to get him going.

“He’s a really awkward fighter,” Smith said. “When he comes out in that herky-jerky stance, he’s hard to hit. But when he came out in the normal stance, I was able to do my work. When I hit him in the fourth round with that right, it changed the momentum.”

Smith became the aggressor and Bundrage began backing up as the rounds went on. Bundrage’s awkwardness made it hard for Smith to land the right uppercut that trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad believed would be an effective weapon. Still, Smith was landing his jab and hook, and he had taken control.

For the 39-year-old Bundrage, things got progressively worse as an accidental head butt late in round nine opened a cut over his left eye.

“He started moving, and it was almost like he was running away,” Smith said. “We didn’t expect that. But I didn’t want to be too anxious and leave myself open for a big shot.”

Bundrage tried to rally but Smith stayed aggressive. When the scores were announced, Smith had won a fight few outside of his camp had given him a chance of winning.

“Ishe fought a good fight, he won fair and square,” said Bundrage (32-5). “He was the better fighter. I didn’t listen to my trainer or follow my game plan.”

Mayweather, who turned 36 on Sunday, was thrilled by Smith’s victory.

“Ishe is my guy. I love him,” Mayweather said during the Showtime telecast. “When everybody turned their back on Ishe, I stuck with him. I don’t believe in turning my back on anyone.”

Smith said he would like to make his first title defense in Las Vegas, possibly against Carlos Molina.

“That’s important to me,” he said. “But we’ll see what Floyd and Leonard (Ellerbe, Mayweather’s co-manager) say, and we’ll figure it out.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.