Steve Cunningham

Adamek vs. Cunningham II on Saturday, December 22nd

521By Bill Phanco, photo: Rich Graessle — 36-year-old former two division world champion world champion Tomasz Adamek (47-2, 29 KO’s) will be fighting a rematch against former IBF cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham (25-4, 12 KO’s) at the Sands Casino Resort, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Adamek will have his IBF North American heavyweight title on the line.

Adamek has a previous 12 round split decision victory over the 36-year-old Cunningham four years in December 2008.

In that fight, Cunningham totally out-boxed the slower Adamek. However, Adamek knocked Cunningham down three times in the fight, once in the 2nd, 4th and 8th rounds, to win a narrow 12 round split decision. You know that a fighter has been out-boxed when they knock another fighter down three times and yet still barely win the fight. Adamek’s work rate was poor in the Cunningham fight and he was limited to mostly throwing an occasional bomb. That was enough because Cunningham couldn’t take Adamek’s power.

#3 IBF Adamek isn’t the puncher at heavyweight that he was in the cruiserweight division. He’s still winning for the most part, but he’s been selective in the opposition that he’s faced.

Steve Cunningham: “I don’t feel the world has seen the best Steve Cunningham yet, so I’m willing and prepared to show them”

Steve Cunningham: “I don’t feel the world has seen the best Steve Cunningham yet, so I’m willing and prepared to show them”

Exclusive Interview by Geoffrey Ciani – I recently had the opportunity to speak with former two-time cruiserweight champion Steve USS Cunningham (24-4, 12 KOs), who will be making his heavyweight debut this Saturday when he takes on Jason Gavern (21-10-4, 10 KOs) at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Cunningham spoke about a variety of topics including: his decision to move to heavyweight, adjusting to his new weight, his upcoming match against Gavern, a potential rematch against Tomasz Adamek, his views on the Klitschko brothers, his heavyweight goals, and more! Here is what Steve had to say.

Audio:

GEOFFREY CIANI: Hello everyone. This is Geoffrey Ciani from East Side Boxing and I am joined here today by former two-time cruiserweight champion, about to make his heavyweight debut this weekend, Steve USS Cunningham. How’s everything going, Steve?

STEVE CUNNINGHAM: Everything is good. Training camp is over, and we’re leaving tomorrow, so it’s fight time.

CIANI: Great! Now Steve, as I mentioned a moment ago, you’re getting ready to make your heavyweight debut here. You said you just closed out camp. How was training and preparations for your first fight at heavyweight?

CUNNINGHAM: It was pretty intense because I was sparring with some big guys. I was sparring with Chazz Witherspoon and a couple of other heavyweights you guys probably don’t know from the gym. But these guys are big, man! 240 and about 6’6”, and Chazz Witherspoon is about 6’3” and 230. So you know I’ve been getting in some good work with some good heavyweights. It’s been grueling on the body taking those shots, but also it’s helping me learn and helping me develop more. The next thing was just me getting this extra weight on. I’ve gained about eight pounds I guess since my last fight, since we’ve been working at being a heavyweight, so eight to ten pounds. But since I was a small cruiserweight, you know I would leave the gym at like 195-196, or 194 and sometimes lower. Putting on this weight has been a little task, you know, just learning how to do it and keep it on.