Steve Cunningham

Steve Cunningham
Cunningham in 2010
Statistics
Real name	Steven Ormain Cunningham
Nickname(s)	USS
Rated at	Cruiserweight Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Reach	82 in (208 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	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	Krzysztof Głowacki	UD	12	Apr 16, 2016	Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.	For WBO cruiserweight title
36	Draw	28–7–1	Antonio Tarver	SD	12	Aug 14, 2015	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
35	Loss	28–7	Vyacheslav Glazkov	UD	12	Mar 14, 2015	Centre Bell, Montreal, Quebec, Canada	Lost USBA heavyweight title
34	Win	28–6	Natu Visinia	RTD	7 (10), 3:00	Oct 18, 2014	2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
33	Win	27–6	Amir Mansour	UD	10	Apr 4, 2014	Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.	Won USBA heavyweight title
32	Win	26–6	Manuel Quezada	UD	8	Dec 14, 2013	Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
31	Loss	25–6	Tyson Fury	KO	7 (12), 2:55	Apr 20, 2013	The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
30	Loss	25–5	Tomasz Adamek	SD	12	Dec 22, 2012	Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.	For IBF North American heavyweight title
29	Win	25–4	Jason Gavern	UD	10	Sep 8, 2012	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
28	Loss	24–4	Yoan Pablo Hernández	UD	12	Feb 4, 2012	Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Germany	For IBF cruiserweight title
27	Loss	24–3	Yoan Pablo Hernández	TD	6 (12), 3:00	Oct 1, 2011	Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany	Lost IBF cruiserweight title; Split TD after Hernández sustained a cut from an accidental head clash
26	Win	24–2	Enad Licina	UD	12	Feb 12, 2011	RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Mülheim, Germany	Retained IBF cruiserweight title
25	Win	23–2	Troy Amos-Ross	TKO	5 (12), 0:01	Jun 5, 2010	Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany	Won vacant IBF cruiserweight title
24	Win	22–2	Wayne Braithwaite	UD	12	Jul 11, 2009	BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
23	Loss	21–2	Tomasz Adamek	SD	12	Dec 11, 2008	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.	Lost IBF cruiserweight title
22	Win	21–1	Marco Huck	TKO	12 (12), 1:56	Dec 29, 2007	Seidensticker Halle, Bielefeld, Germany	Retained IBF cruiserweight title
21	Win	20–1	Krzysztof Włodarczyk	MD	12	May 26, 2007	Spodek, Katowice, Poland	Won IBF cruiserweight title
20	Loss	19–1	Krzysztof Włodarczyk	SD	12	Nov 25, 2006	Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland	For vacant IBF cruiserweight title
19	Win	19–0	Lloyd Bryan	TKO	5 (10), 1:10	Jan 7, 2006	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
18	Win	18–0	Kelvin Davis	UD	12	Sep 3, 2005	Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
17	Win	17–0	Guillermo Jones	SD	10	Apr 2, 2005	DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
16	Win	16–0	Forrest Neal	TKO	4 (8), 0:53	Oct 2, 2004	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
15	Win	15–0	Sebastiaan Rothmann	MD	10	May 22, 2004	Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa
14	Win	14–0	Terry McGroom	UD	8	Sep 20, 2003	Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
13	Win	13–0	Demetrius Jenkins	UD	8	Mar 29, 2003	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Joseph Awinongya	UD	8	Jul 27, 2002	Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
11	Win	11–0	Caseny Truesdale	PTS	4	Sep 29, 2001	Martinsville, Virginia, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Shawn Townsend	TKO	3	Aug 30, 2001	Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Shawn Townsend	TKO	6	Jul 26, 2001	Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	John Battle	KO	1	Jun 28, 2001	The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Mike Williams	TKO	6	May 24, 2001	The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Richard Perry	KO	1	May 12, 2001	Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Jeff Bowman	TKO	1	Apr 28, 2001	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Kanovas Alexander	KO	1	Apr 12, 2001	Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Nate Frazier	KO	1	Mar 10, 2001	Virginia, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Robert Marsh	PTS	4	Feb 17, 2001	Radisson Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Norman Jones	SD	4	Oct 28, 2000	Jarrell's Boxing Gym, Savannah, Georgia, U.S.

Titles in boxing

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.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Steve Cunningham from BoxRec
• Personal website
• Biography on Premier Boxing Champions website