Philadelphia is a fight city, with some of the best boxers to ever grace the planet. From the names of Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Jeff Chandler, to Bernard Hopkins, this history is rich. But when it comes to celebrating some of their best fighters today like a Steve ?USS? Cunningham, Steve says ?I definitely feel under appreciated. I mean I?m a two time world champion. You would think I?d be a bigger name. It?s like Bernard Hopkins said when he was winning fights. Phillies ain?t winning. Eagles ain?t winning. I?m winning and still don?t get all of that support?.
Support is something Cunningham has never received from any of his promoters during his tenure as a boxer. ?I was with Don King for 8 years, so you know how that goes. I fight in a division that isn?t popular (Cruiserweights) in this country. So I had to jump ship and sign in to Sunderland Promotions for the reason that cruiserweights are more popular overseas. But even then, they signed me because I had a belt and they pretty much all of the cruiserweights and they wanted my belt. But you know I truly believed in myself and my wife believed in me so I signed on even though I knew I would not only have to fight the fighters but I had to fight the judges and even my own promoter?, said Cunningham.
Cunningham feels he?s been a victim of very bad decisions in his road warrior type of a career. ?Obviously the money?s better but I been robbed twice overseas. The first time I fought Wlodarczyk in Poland I was robbed, I came back and beat him to prove it. I think I was robbed in the first Hernandez fight. That was some bull. The second fight should have not even happen. It was bogus, so I only feel like I lost twice in my career. I lost to Adamek even though I got knocked down twice, I still lost by a split decision and in the second Hernandez fight, and I lost that one. The shot he hit me with was picture perfect and it changed the fight?, explained Cunningham.
The one punch did change the second Hernandez fight in most eyes but a lot of people thought Cunningham started out with the wrong approach in the fight. Cunningham explains ?I went into that fight mad. That?s the first time I ever did that. I went straight at him, I should have been more in a control intense mode. I tried to pick his shots off which I did but I made a few mistakes and I got caught. It changed the fight. Yeah, I should have started quicker because he tires late. If I got another shot at and I know they won?t give it to me, I?ll definitely beat him.?
If tough luck isn?t hard enough, Cunningham feels there are certain guys out there that don?t want to fight him. ?Mr. Antonio Tarver. That?s a fight we should make on Showtime. When my people went to Showtime they said the commentator wouldn?t pick his own fights and that?s pretty much what he did. He picked (Lateef) Kayode because he?s green. I don?t mean to disrespect other dudes but the guy is green and that?s why I think it?s a bogus fight. I think Tarver needs stay in that seat and call the fights because he really don?t want a real fight?, said Cunningham vehemently.
As far as his next move, it is an interesting one. ?I have nothing left to prove at cruiserweight and plus guys like (Marco) Huck who I already beat won?t fight me. I know Hernandez don?t want me. Denis Lebedev hides in Russia and fights old guys. Tarver?s hiding behind his network so I?m pretty much 70% thinking of moving to heavyweight. I beat Huck pretty easily and I thought he beat (Alexander) Povetkin so I know I could beat him. I?ll fight a David Haye. I?ll box with a Chris Arreola. Heck I?ll even rematch Adamek at heavyweight. I?ll jump right into things. My thing is I don?t have the kind of support other guys have. Boxing is a shady business and if you don?t have the right people behind you it?s tough to succeed. I accepted that route and I got my wife and my kids behind me and I?ll be ready to come back bigger and better than ever? explained Cunningham. He says his best is yet to come. Let?s see how it unfolds.
