K9 Bundrage and Erika Newman Interview: Famous Boxers Have No Privacy
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
The way former World Boxing Association World Super Welterweight champion Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage of Detroit tells it, after he became world champion, people on the street would call out to him and shout “Hey K9! Arf Arf Arf!” At that point, he knew his life had become more public than it was before.
Looking inside your soul is a difficult thing for most people. Having no privacy of the soul and spirit means you are being judged by others, often unnecessarily.
On page eight of the new book ‘No Privacy’ by Detroit author Erika Newman, it states “Privacy isn’t about having anything to hide. Privacy is strictly having the option, or right to do things, without having to do them in front of others, the right to do things behind closed doors, without the eyes, ears, and judgment of others.”
In a Real Combat Media new interview exclusive, former WBA World Super Welterweight champion Bundrage, 36-6 with 20 knockouts, Detroit, Michigan, and ‘No Privacy’ author Erika Newman sat down together and discussed the subject of Newman’s new book at the Second2None Promotions boxing card at Ford Community & Performing Arts Center on Saturday evening, December 7, 2019.
Robert B: “K9, what is privacy, and what is it in real life for publicly recognized boxers?”
K9 Bundrage: “Life is like a boxing match. You have to fight your way through it. I feel like I have been fighting (in) my whole life.”
Robert B: “Translate the boxing ring into real life understanding.”
K9 Bundrage: “To paint this picture, I feel like if there are six rounds in a fight (of life) I’m gonna win.”
Robert B: “Erika’s book makes a great statement. In boxing, and in life, people seek to maintain, to a great degree, an air of privacy in their individual lives. In private, and in puclic, people often say and do things to hurt others, who don’t understand other people have feelings, and emotionally wounded by their prejudices, jealousies, and lack of compassion and disregard for others as human beings.”
Erika N: “It meant a lot to me to meet K9 tonight here at the boxing match. In the few minutes we were talking, K9 is relatable. K9 stated to me from the moment he appeared on television in ‘The Contender’show, his privacy was taken away from him. You become that public figure. When I appeared on MTV’s Catfish Show on television two years ago, from that moment on, everyone was pointed at me and whispering to each other ‘That’s Erika’ from the Catfish Show. I couldn’t go to the grocery store (without being recognized).”
K9 Bundrage: “Whenever a boxer becomes known, he gets a lot of fans.”
Robert B: “Does a pro boxer lose his privacy when he becomes a public sports figure?”
K9 Bundrage: “Of course!”
Robert B: “K9, would you trade your fame for privacy?”
K9 Bundrage: “No! I mean, I never got to the point where I was (my fame was) up there with Mayweather (Floyd Mayweather Jr.) but I had some fame and I had some fun.”
Erika N: “Privacy is something that everyone wants, but nobody is technically entitled to. In my book, you will learn everything is in real life (terms) that people can relate to. We all have our own struggles. During my lifetime, I was misunderstood (during my formative years). I wanted (needed) someone who could listen to me. I listened to writing to express myself.”
Robert B: “K9, in the boxing world, does any boxer truly have privacy, given the news media and social media outlets today?”
K9 Bundrage: “My life (today) is an open book! When you are at the beginning of your boxing career you do have privacy. When you become a world boxing champion, when you become a famous world champion, a famous superstar world champion, hell no! Once upon a time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was doing a show at Joe Louis Arena. I was on the hit television show ‘The Contender’ Show in season two. After ‘The Contender’ show aired on television, my privacy ended. Everywhere I went people shouted ‘K9! Arf Arf Arf! As soon as I became famous, everyone wanted to take pictures of K9, and pictures with K9, and said ‘I want to see you bark!’ When you become a famous superstar world champion, you have no privacy when you are in the eye of the general public. Erika’s book is meaningful because her feelings about having no privacy in her own life, this is something famous boxers can relate to in their individual lives, from the point they became public figures.”
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