Steve Cunningham

This article is about the American boxer. For the American computer scientist, see Steve Cunningham (computer scientist). For the rugby union official, see Steve Cunningham (IRFU). For the American surgeon, see Steven Clark Cunningham.
Steve Cunningham

Cunningham in 2010
Statistics
Real name Steven Ormain Cunningham
Nickname(s) USS
Rated at
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Reach 82 in (208 cm)
Nationality American
Born (1976-07-15) July 15, 1976
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 37
Wins 28
Wins by KO 13
Losses 8
No contests 1

Steven Ormain "Steve" Cunningham (born July 15, 1976) is an American professional boxer. He is a two-time former IBF cruiserweight champion, having held the title from 2007 to 2008 and 2010 to 2011. His nickname, "USS", is a reference to his 1994–1998 US Navy service on the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise.[1]

Background

A native of Philadelphia, one of the most boxing-rich cities in America, Cunningham began adding to his hometown’s legacy in the sport after joining the US Navy. He gained a reputation as a tough fighter on the streets of Philly, but he began his amateur career while based at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. Cunningham served in the Navy from 1994-98, serving on the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise.[2]

Amateur career

As an amateur, he won the National Golden Gloves 178 lb (81 kg) title in 1998.

Professional boxing career

Cunningham began his professional career in 2000 with a 19 fight winning streak including a split decision over Guillermo Jones.

On November 26, 2006, he challenged Krzysztof Włodarczyk for the Vacant IBF Cruiserweight Title but lost by a disputed split decision in front of Wlodarczyk's fans in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. Later, Cunningham challenged Wlodarczyk again in the summer of 2007. With a majority decision in his favor, Cunningham at last won the title. He stopped undefeated Marco Huck in Germany in December 2007.

Cunningham defended the IBF title and fought for the vacant The Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Championship against Tomasz Adamek in Newark, New Jersey, on December 11, 2008. He lost a split decision (116–110, 115–112, 112–114), in a fight that was close in spite of the fact that Cunningham was knocked down in the second, fourth, and eighth rounds.

Cunningham faced former WBC Cruiserweight Champion Wayne Braithwaite, at the BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida on the July 11, 2009, and won the fight via a twelve round unanimous decision (119–109, 117–111, 118–110). On June 5, 2010, Cunningham regained the IBF Cruiserweight title with a fifth round stoppage on cuts of Troy Ross in Germany. Cunningham returned to Germany to defend his IBF title against challenger Enad Licina on February 12, 2011.

Cunningham was knocked out in the seventh round by Tyson Fury, a British boxer, in an IBF heavyweight title eliminator on April 20, 2013. Cunningham had the much bigger Fury down in the second round.[3]

After being promoted by Kathy Duva and Main Events for several years, he is now advised by Al Haymon. [4] Cunningham is trained by Naazim Richardson.

Other activities

He joined light-middleweight Boyd Melson, Shawn Estrada, Demetrius Andrade and other boxers in Team Fight to Walk, an organization focused on increasing awareness in boxing of the importance of stem cell research for spinal cord injuries.[5]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
37 fights 28 wins 8 losses
By knockout 13 1
By decision 15 7
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
37 Loss 28–8–1 Poland Krzysztof Głowacki UD 12 Apr 16, 2016 United States Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. For WBO cruiserweight title
36 Draw 28–7–1 United States Antonio Tarver SD 12 Aug 14, 2015 United States Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
35 Loss 28–7 Ukraine Vyacheslav Glazkov UD 12 Mar 14, 2015 Canada Centre Bell, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Lost USBA heavyweight title
34 Win 28–6 United States Natu Visinia RTD 7 (10), 3:00 Oct 18, 2014 United States 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
33 Win 27–6 United States Amir Mansour UD 10 Apr 4, 2014 United States Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Won USBA heavyweight title
32 Win 26–6 United States Manuel Quezada UD 8 Dec 14, 2013 United States Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
31 Loss 25–6 United Kingdom Tyson Fury KO 7 (12), 2:55 Apr 20, 2013 United States The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
30 Loss 25–5 Poland Tomasz Adamek SD 12 Dec 22, 2012 United States Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S. For IBF North American heavyweight title
29 Win 25–4 United States Jason Gavern UD 10 Sep 8, 2012 United States Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
28 Loss 24–4 Cuba Yoan Pablo Hernández UD 12 Feb 4, 2012 Germany Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Germany For IBF cruiserweight title
27 Loss 24–3 Cuba Yoan Pablo Hernández TD 6 (12), 3:00 Oct 1, 2011 Germany Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany Lost IBF cruiserweight title;
Split TD after Hernández sustained a cut from an accidental head clash
26 Win 24–2 Serbia Enad Licina UD 12 Feb 12, 2011 Germany RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Mülheim, Germany Retained IBF cruiserweight title
25 Win 23–2 Canada Troy Amos-Ross TKO 5 (12), 0:01 Jun 5, 2010 Germany Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany Won vacant IBF cruiserweight title
24 Win 22–2 Guyana Wayne Braithwaite UD 12 Jul 11, 2009 United States BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
23 Loss 21–2 Poland Tomasz Adamek SD 12 Dec 11, 2008 United States Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. Lost IBF cruiserweight title
22 Win 21–1 Germany Marco Huck TKO 12 (12), 1:56 Dec 29, 2007 Germany Seidensticker Halle, Bielefeld, Germany Retained IBF cruiserweight title
21 Win 20–1 Poland Krzysztof Włodarczyk MD 12 May 26, 2007 Poland Spodek, Katowice, Poland Won IBF cruiserweight title
20 Loss 19–1 Poland Krzysztof Włodarczyk SD 12 Nov 25, 2006 Poland Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland For vacant IBF cruiserweight title
19 Win 19–0 Jamaica Lloyd Bryan TKO 5 (10), 1:10 Jan 7, 2006 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 United States Kelvin Davis UD 12 Sep 3, 2005 United States Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Panama Guillermo Jones SD 10 Apr 2, 2005 United States DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 United States Forrest Neal TKO 4 (8), 0:53 Oct 2, 2004 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 South Africa Sebastiaan Rothmann MD 10 May 22, 2004 South Africa Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa
14 Win 14–0 United States Terry McGroom UD 8 Sep 20, 2003 United States Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 United States Demetrius Jenkins UD 8 Mar 29, 2003 United States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Ghana Joseph Awinongya UD 8 Jul 27, 2002 United States Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 United States Caseny Truesdale PTS 4 Sep 29, 2001 United States Martinsville, Virginia, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 United States Shawn Townsend TKO 3 Aug 30, 2001 United States Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 United States Shawn Townsend TKO 6 Jul 26, 2001 United States Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 United States John Battle KO 1 Jun 28, 2001 United States The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 United States Mike Williams TKO 6 May 24, 2001 United States The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 United States Richard Perry KO 1 May 12, 2001 United States Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 United States Jeff Bowman TKO 1 Apr 28, 2001 United States Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 United States Kanovas Alexander KO 1 Apr 12, 2001 United States Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 United States Nate Frazier KO 1 Mar 10, 2001 United States Virginia, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 United States Robert Marsh PTS 4 Feb 17, 2001 United States Radisson Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 United States Norman Jones SD 4 Oct 28, 2000 United States Jarrell's Boxing Gym, Savannah, Georgia, U.S.

Titles in boxing

Regional titles
Preceded by
Amir Mansour
USBA heavyweight champion
April 4, 2014 – March 14, 2015
Succeeded by
Vyacheslav Glazkov
World titles
Preceded by
Krzysztof Włodarczyk
IBF cruiserweight champion
May 26, 2007 – December 11, 2008
Succeeded by
Tomasz Adamek
Vacant
Title last held by
Tomasz Adamek
IBF cruiserweight champion
June 5, 2010 – October 1, 2011
Succeeded by
Yoan Pablo Hernández

References

  1. Mladinich, Robert (December 28, 2007) Steve Cunningham Confident In Germany. The Sweet Science
  2. http://www.premierboxingchampions.com/steve-cunningham
  3. Press Association (April 21, 2012). "Tyson Fury recovers from knockdown to defeat Steve Cunningham". The Observer.
  4. McNeil, Franklin (April 21, 2015). "Philly's Steve 'USS' Cunningham signs with Haymon". Philly Voice.
  5. "Boxers from Army's World Class Athlete Program to Support Melson!". Boxingnews24.com. July 17, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
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