Steve Cunningham

Steven Ormain Cunningham (born July 15, 1976) is an American professional boxer who held the IBF cruiserweight title twice between 2007 and 2011. His nickname, "USS", is a reference to his US Navy service on the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise between 1994 and 1998.[1]

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 (rugby union). For the American surgeon, see Steven Clark Cunningham.
Steve Cunningham
Cunningham in 2023
Statistics
Real nameSteven Ormain Cunningham
Nickname(s)USS
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Reach82 in (208 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1976-07-15) July 15, 1976
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights40
Wins30
Wins by KO13
Losses9
Draws1

Early life

A native of Philadelphia, Cunningham 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 to 1998, serving on the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise.[2]

Amateur career

Cunningham started boxing at the age of 19, and won the National Golden Gloves 178 lb (81 kg) title in 1998 as an amateur.

Professional 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 lost the IBF title against Tomasz Adamek in Newark, New Jersey, on December 11, 2008. He lost the fight via split decision. One judge scored the fight 114–112 for Cunningham, while the other two judges scored it 116–110 and 115–112 for Adamek. Fight was close although 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, and 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 vs. Fury

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] At the time of the stoppage, Cunningham was winning the fight with 56–56, 57–55, and 57–55.[4] In an interview with Joe Rogan, Fury claimed Cunningham was the toughest opponent of his career.

After being promoted by Kathy Duva and Main Events for several years, he was now advised by Al Haymon.[5] Cunningham was trained by Naazim Richardson.

Cunningham vs. Glowacki

On April 16, 2016, Cunningham fought Krzysztof Glowacki for his WBO world cruiserweight belt. Glowacki dropped Cunningham four times, twice in the second round, and once in both the tenth and the twelfth round en route to a unanimous decision victory.[6]

Cunningham vs. Tabiti

On August 26, 2017, Cunningham fought Andrew Tabiti. Tabiti was ranked #4 by the WBC, #9 by the IBF and #12 by the WBA at cruiserweight, while Cunningham was ranked #10 by the IBF at the time. Tabiti won the fight via unanimous decision, 100–90, 97–93 and 97–93.[7]

Cunningham vs. Mir

Cunningham defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir by unanimous decision in Mir's boxing debut on April 17, 2021, on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren. Cunningham served as a replacement for Antonio Tarver who was denied clearance by the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission.[8]

Outside of boxing

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.[9]

Cunningham is a practicing Black Hebrew Israelite.[10]

Professional boxing record
40 fights 30 wins 9 losses
By knockout 13 1
By decision 17 8
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
40 Win 30–9–1 Frank Mir UD 6 Apr 17, 2021 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
39 Loss 29–9–1 Andrew Tabiti UD 10 Aug 26, 2017 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. For NABF cruiserweight title
38 Win 29–8–1 Felipe Romero UD 6 Mar 17, 2017 Santander Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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 Bell Centre, 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;
For vacant The Ring 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 cut from 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 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;
For vacant The Ring 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, 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.

References
  1. Mladinich, Robert (December 28, 2007) Steve Cunningham Confident In Germany. The Sweet Science
  2. "Steve Cunningham - Next Fight, Fighter Bio, Stats & News".
  3. Press Association (April 21, 2012). "Tyson Fury recovers from knockdown to defeat Steve Cunningham". The Observer.
  4. "Fury-Cunningham scorecard. [Phone pic]".
  5. McNeil, Franklin (April 21, 2015). "Philly's Steve 'USS' Cunningham signs with Haymon". Philly Voice.
  6. "Krzysztof Glowacki outpoints Steve Cunningham, retains WBO belt". The Ring. 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  7. "Tabiti vs Cunningham - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  8. Marc Raimondi, Ariel Helwani (March 23, 2021). "Antonio Tarver won't fight Frank Mir, who now may take on Steve Cunningham in Atlanta". ESPN. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  9. "Boxers from Army's World Class Athlete Program to Support Melson!". Boxingnews24.com. July 17, 2011. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  10. "Twitter Post". Twitter. February 10, 2020. Me and #bigmoose ...Dancing like David .... Torah is the light Torah lights my path ...feet shod with the besorah. #ysrael #ysraelite #hebrewisraelite #hebrew #mosiyahcunningham #stevecunningham @shabbatmuzik
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