# Anthony Bonsante

Anthony "The Bullet" Bonsante (born October 28, 1970) is a professional boxer and competitor on reality TV show The Contender. He also works overnight as a supervisor at a distribution center.

## Personal life

Bonsante is a father of two children.

## Boxing career
### On TV's "The Contender"

He was a contestant on reality TV show The Contender, shortly before which he fought future contestant Peter Manfredo and lost. That fight was Manfredo's first defence of the WBO and NABA Light Middleweight Titles. Bonsante had previously won a fight for the vacant IBU Super Middleweight Title.
On the show, he was placed on the West Coast team and fought Brent Cooper in the sixth First Round fight. He won in his characteristic aggressive style. However, he was meant to fight Jimmy Lange, and an argument ensued over his choosing not to do so - Ishe Smith in particular become infuriated at his conduct. Tarick Salmaci was the only boxer to accept that he had fought well.
After running into an uppercut from Jesse Brinkley in the quarter finals despite having had the upper hand with his characteristically aggressive boxing style was knocked into a daze, and found himself flat on the canvas. His feud with Ishe continued as they fought in a Fans Favourite Fight on finals night - trying an illegal move on him before going on to lose.
Bonsante fought a rematch with Jesse Brinkley on The Contender Rematch Reality Show. Though the ringside announcers gave the fight to Bonsante, the judges awarded the victory to Brinkley.

### After "The Contender"

In July 2006, he was beaten by super middleweight prospect Allan Green on ESPN.
He injected new life in his career on January 12, 2007, with a ten-round unanimous decision win over archrival Matt Vanda for the Minnesota state middleweight title and vacant IBA Americas belt, before a big crowd of 8,872 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Bonsante dropped Vanda in the tenth on the way to a 98–92, 98–91, 98–91 win. He lost a technical decision to John Duddy on March 16 at Madison Square Garden, after referee Steve Smoger judged him unable to continue after the ninth round due to a cut from an earlier accidental headbutt.
On July 31, 2008, Bonsante lost a 1st-round KO to Adonis Stevenson when Bonsante was caught with a sharp left just 46 seconds into the first round. Bonsante went down on his back, with his eyes shut. Veteran and WBC appointed referee (Gerry Bolen) began counting but stopped at a count of six as it appeared that Bonsante had been knocked out. As Bolen was waiving off the fight, Bonsante rapidly got up and appeared to be completely alert. Nonetheless, the referee refused to allow the fight to continue. ESPN boxing analyst Teddy Atlas commented that Bonsante may have been playing possum by pretending to be knocked out, but miscalculated the referee's reaction.
On January 20, 2009, it was announced that Bonsante would defend his Minnesota middleweight title against challenger Andy Kolle at Grand Casino Hinckley on March 27 of the same year. Andy Kolle wins by a TKO in round 3 after which Anthony Bonsante announces retirement from the sport.

## Professional boxing record

| 50 fights | 34 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 18 | 5 |
| By decision | 15 | 8 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 50 | Loss | 34–13–3 | Yori Boy Campas | DQ | 6 (10) | Jan 23, 2016 | Civic Center, Butte, Montana, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 34–12–3 | Daniel Gonzales | UD | 8 | Sep 26, 2015 | Flathead Country Fairgrounds, Kalispell, Montana, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 33–12–3 | Sam Hill | UD | 6 | May 31, 2014 | Sports Center, Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 47 | Loss | 32–12–3 | Robert Kliewer | SD | 8 | Dec 18, 2010 | Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 46 | Loss | 32–11–3 | Andy Kolle | TKO | 3 (10), 1:37 | Mar 28, 2009 | Grand Casino, Honckley, Minnesota, U.S. | For USA Minnesota State middleweight title |
| 45 | Win | 32–10–3 | Carl Daniels | UD | 10 | Sep 20, 2008 | Treasure Island Casino, Red Wing, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 44 | Loss | 31–10–3 | Adonis Stevenson | KO | 1 (12), 0:46 | Aug 1, 2008 | Gare Windsor Salle des Pas Perdus, Montreal, Canada | For WBC Continental Americas super-middleweight title |
| 43 | Win | 31–9–3 | Ted Muller | RTD | 5 (8), 3:00 | Jun 6, 2008 | Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 30–9–3 | Kendall Gould | UD | 8 | Aug 24, 2007 | Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota, U.S | |
| 41 | Loss | 29–9–3 | John Duddy | TD | 9 (12) 3:00 | Mar 16, 2007 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For IBA and WBC Continental Americas middleweight titles |
| 40 | Win | 29–8–3 | Matt Vanda | UD | 10 | Jan 12, 2007 | Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | Retained USA Minnesota State middleweight title; Won vacant IBA Americas middleweight title |
| 39 | Win | 28–8–3 | Troy Lowry | TKO | 8 (10), 3:00 | Nov 17, 2006 | Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | Won vacant USA Minnesota State middleweight title |
| 38 | Win | 27–8–3 | Larry Borthers | KO | 4 (6), 2:34 | Oct 7, 2006 | Patriot Center - George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 26–8–3 | Allan Green | TKO | 5 (10), 2:37 | Jul 21, 2006 | Million Dollar Elm Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 36 | Loss | 26–7–3 | Jesse Brinkley | UD | 5 | Oct 15, 2005 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | The Contender Series (2005) |
| 35 | Loss | 26–6–3 | Ishe Smith | UD | 5 | May 24, 2005 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | The Contender Series (2005) |
| 34 | Loss | 26–5–3 | Jesse Brinkley | TKO | 5 (5), 2:24 | Sep 21, 2004 | Pasadena, California, U.S. | The Contender Series (2005) |
| 33 | Win | 26–4–3 | Brent Cooper | TKO | 3 (5), 0:38 | Sep 2, 2004 | Pasadena, California, U.S. | The Contender Series (2005) |
| 32 | Loss | 25–4–3 | Peter Manfredo Jr. | UD | 12 | May 14, 2004 | Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | For WBO–NABO junior-middleweight title |
| 31 | Win | 25–3–3 | Reggie Strickland | UD | 8 | Sep 6, 2003 | Sport's Cafe, Fridley, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 24–3–3 | Roni Martinez | TKO | 3 (10) | Aug 23, 2003 | Canterbury Downs Racetrack, Shakopee, Minnesota, U.S. | Corner Retirement |
| 29 | Win | 23–3–3 | Tony Ayala Jr. | TKO | 11 (12), 1:32 | Apr 25, 2003 | Thunderbird Wold West Casino, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S. | Won vacant IBA super-middleweight title |
| 28 | Win | 22–3–3 | Marris Virgil | TKO | 3 (8), 3:00 | Apr 11, 2003 | Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 21–3–3 | Donnie Penelton | UD | 8 | Mar 15, 2003 | Ho-Chunk Casino, Baraboo, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 26 | Draw | 20–3–3 | Prince Badi Ajamu | SD | 8 | Oct 4, 2002 | Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 20–3–2 | Jonathan Corn | TKO | 3 (10), 1:52 | Jun 16, 2002 | Treasure Island Casino, Red Wing, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 19–3–2 | Marris Virgil | TKO | 3 (8), 2:22 | Jun 7, 2002 | Wade Stadium, Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 18–3–2 | Gustavo Alonso Soto | UD | 10 | Jan 31, 2002 | Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 17–3–2 | Donnie Penelton | UD | 8 | Oct 26, 2001 | Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 16–3–2 | Dustin Marshall | TKO | 2 (6), 1:15 | Jul 28, 2001 | Rochester, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 20 | Loss | 15–3–2 | Tocker Pudwill | UD | 8 | Jun 1, 2001 | Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 15–2–2 | Billy Mastrangelo | UD | 8 | Mar 23, 2001 | Sportscenter, Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 14–2–2 | Rob Bleakly | UD | 6 | Jan 12, 2001 | Lucky Star Casino, Concho, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 17 | Loss | 13–2–2 | Danny Thomas | TKO | 8 (8), 1:12 | Sep 2, 1999 | Adam's Mark Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 13–1–2 | Manuel Esparza | TKO | 6 (8) | Jun 19, 1999 | Cuzzy's Bar, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 12–1–2 | Ruben Ruiz | TKO | 2 (8) | May 22, 1999 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 11–1–2 | Rob Bleakly | UD | 8 | May 9, 1999 | Municipal Auditorium, Minot, North Dakota, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 10–1–2 | Rico Cason | UD | 8 | Feb 12, 1999 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 9–1–2 | Scott Sala | TKO | 4 (4), 1:50 | Nov 20, 1998 | Catfish Bend Casino, Burlington, Iowa, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 8–1–2 | Mike Serr | TKO | 4 (6) | Nov 13, 1998 | Jackpot Junction, Casino, Morton, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 7–1–2 | Danny Thomas | PTS | 6 | Oct 1, 1998 | Rochester, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 6–1–2 | David Foster | UD | 4 | Aug 29, 1998 | Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 5–1–2 | Richard Wilson | PTS | 5 | Jun 5, 1998 | North Star Casino, Keshena, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 4–1–2 | David Horvath | TKO | 2 (?) | Dec 2, 1997 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 6 | Draw | 3–1–2 | Rhoshii Wells | PTS | 4 | Oct 10, 1997 | Jackpot Junction Casino, Morton, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 5 | Draw | 3–1–1 | LaVerne Clark | SD | 6 | Sep 13, 1997 | All Seasons Arena, Mandan, North Dakota, U.S. | |
| 4 | Loss | 3–1 | Kingsley Ikeke | PTS | 6 | Jun 6, 1997 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Shawn Stalder | TKO | 1 (?) | Mar 28, 1997 | Graham Arena, Rochester, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Shawn Stalder | TKO | 4 (4) | Aug 24, 1996 | 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, New Town, North Dakota, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Pete Flying Horse | TKO | 1 (4) | Jun 22, 1996 | 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, New Town, North Dakota, U.S. | |