Shinard Bunch is a junior welterweight looking to emerge on the world stage this Friday night as he fights at Cache Creek Resort in Brooks, California when he takes on Bryan Flores in the ten-round main event.
The bout will serve as the main event of ShoBox: The Next Generation, and could provide a platform to the next level of the sport for Bunch as fighters like Guillermo Rigondeaux, Robert Guerrero, Regis Prograis, and Jaron “Boots” Ennis first cut their teeth on the series. Now, Bunch, who had 406 amateur fights is looking to be the next success story from the program that has had an eye for talent over the years.
Trained by “Chino” Rivas, who trained Jason Sosa and Tevin Farmer, Bunch is a fighter, who has stayed incredibly active. Bunch who turned professional in 2019 has fought twenty times already in his career. The New Jersey-based fighter will look to fight for a form of a smaller regional IBF title in the junior welterweight division, one that might land him a top-fifteen ranking and in a position to challenge the top fighters in the division. These are the opportunities it seems Bunch welcomes with open arms.
“I know [my opponent is] 23-0,” responded Bunch about his upcoming opponent. “I know he is an aggressor, he comes forward, he is going to try to wear me down, and from what my coach told me, he got dropped five times in one fight.”
Bunch is no stranger to hard fights as he took on 2016 U.S. Olympic nominee Paul Kroll, who didn’t qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics in his third professional fight. Though Bunch didn’t win on the scorecards, a lot of fans felt he did enough to get the nod, and beyond that, Bunch was undeterred on his dream. Staying extremely active until he got his next big shot against Janelson Figueroa Bocachica on ShoBox. Though it was scored a draw by the official judges, Showtime had Bunch winning the fight. In short, Bunch is looking to take big challenges to secure his legacy as a legend in the sport.
“Every time my name is called - I am going to step up to the plate,” said Bunch in regards to his willingness to fight all of the top contenders. “[working with my coach “Chino” Rivas has] been a great experience. Having a world-class trainer someone who has built actual world champions such as Tevin Farmer and Jason Sosa, it is definitely a blessing to work with someone of that caliber.”
