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
File:Steve Cunningham.jpg Cunningham in 2010
Statistics
Real name	Steven Ormain Cunningham
Nickname(s)	USS (United States Ship)
Rated at	Heavyweight Cruiserweight
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 and a two-time former IBF cruiserweight champion. His nickname, "USS", is a reference to his 1994–1998 US Navy service on the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise.

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.

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.

After being promoted by Kathy Duva and Main Events for several years, he is now advised by Al Haymon. 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.

Professional record

36 fights, 28 wins (13 knockouts), 7 losses, 1 no contest
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	28–8 (1)	Krzysztof Głowacki	UD	12	2016-04-16	Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York	For WBO Cruiserweight title.
NC	28–7 (1)	Antonio Tarver	NC	12	2015-08-14	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey	Originally a split draw; result overturned after Tarver tested positive for a banned substance.
Loss	28–7	Vyacheslav Glazkov	UD	12	2015-03-14	Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec	Lost USBA Heavyweight title.
Win	28–6	Natu Visinia	RTD	7 (10), 3:00	2014-10-18	2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	27–6	Amir Mansour	UD	10	2014-04-04	Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Won USBA Heavyweight title.
Win	26–6	Manuel Quezada	UD	8	2013-12-14	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	25–6	Tyson Fury	KO	7 (12), 2:55	2013-04-20	Madison Square Garden, New York
Loss	25–5	Tomasz Adamek	SD	12	2012-12-22	Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	For IBF North American Heavyweight title.
Win	25–4	Jason Gavern	UD	10	2012-09-08	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Loss	24–4	Yoan Pablo Hernández	UD	12	2012-02-04	Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Hessen	For IBF Cruiserweight title.
Loss	24–3	Yoan Pablo Hernández	TD	6 (12), 3:00	2011-10-01	Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Lost IBF Cruiserweight title.
Win	24–2	Enad Licina	UD	12	2011-02-12	RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Muelheim, Nordrhein-Westfalen	Retained IBF Cruiserweight title.
Win	23–2	Troy Ross	TKO	5 (12), 0:01	2010-06-05	Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Won vacant IBF Cruiserweight title.
Win	22–2	Wayne Braithwaite	UD	12	2009-07-11	BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida	IBF Cruiserweight title eliminator.
Loss	21–2	Tomasz Adamek	SD	12	2008-12-11	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey	Lost IBF Cruiserweight title.
Win	21–1	Marco Huck	TKO	12 (12), 1:56	2007-12-29	Seidensticker Halle, Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen	Retained IBF Cruiserweight title.
Win	20–1	Krzysztof Włodarczyk	MD	12	2007-05-26	Spodek, Katowice	Won IBF Cruiserweight title.
Loss	19–1	Krzysztof Włodarczyk	SD	12	2006-11-25	Torwar Hall, Warsaw	For vacant IBF Cruiserweight title.
Win	19–0	Lloyd Bryan	TKO	5 (10), 1:10	2006-01-07	Madison Square Garden, New York
Win	18–0	Kelvin Davis	UD	12	2005-09-03	Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio	IBF Cruiserweight title eliminator.
Win	17–0	Guillermo Jones	UD	10	2005-04-02	DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts
Win	16–0	Forrest Neal	TKO	4 (8), 0:53	2004-10-02	Madison Square Garden, New York
Win	15–0	Sebastiaan Rothmann	MD	10	2004-05-22	Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, Gauteng
Win	14–0	Terry McGroom	UD	8	2003-09-20	Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut
Win	13–0	Demetrius Jenkins	UD	8	2003-03-29	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	12–0	Joseph Awinongya	UD	8	2002-07-27	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	11–0	Caseny Truesdale	PTS	4	2001-09-29	Martinsville, Virginia
Win	10–0	Shawn Townsend	TKO	3 (8)	2001-08-30	Charleston, South Carolina
Win	9–0	Shawn Townsend	TKO	6 (8)	2001-07-26	Charleston, South Carolina
Win	8–0	John Battle	KO	1 (6)	2001-06-28	The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina
Win	7–0	Mike Williams	TKO	6 (?)	2001-05-24	The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina
Win	6–0	Richard Perry	KO	1 (?)	2001-05-12	Johnson City, Tennessee
Win	5–0	Jeff Bowman	TKO	1 (4)	2001-04-28	Nashville, Tennessee
Win	4–0	Kanovas Alexander	KO	1 (4)	2001-04-12	Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, South Carolina
Win	3–0	Nate Frazier	KO	1 (4)	2001-03-10	Virginia
Win	2–0	Robert Marsh	PTS	4	2001-02-17	Radisson Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina
Win	1–0	Norman Jones	SD	4	2000-10-28	Jarrell's Gym, Savannah, Georgia

External links

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

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