26.11.06 – Mike Cassell, The Philadelphia Boxing Report: Arriving only 5 days before his IBF Cruiserweight Championship match (instead of the agreed upon 10 days) with Poland’s Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, USS Steve Cunningham entered the ring in Warsaw, with an attitude, a plan and enough confidence to easily defeat the awkward Wlodarczyk. After only 3 rounds, it was obvious to every one watching, that Steve was toying with the Polish fighter. He landed his signature one-two, right on the button, as Wlodarczyk continuously lunged forward, without effect aggressiveness..
Cunningham looked unimpressed by anything he was seeing, if fact, he looked comfortable and relaxed for most of the bout. Wlodarczyk had the crowd roaring when he did just about anything, but gave them little else to roar about, as Cunningham thoroughly dominated him throughout the fight. At fights end, the international announcer calling the fight, said, “It looks as if Cunningham pulled another one off in points”. And it was clear to everyone watching, that Wlodarczyk needed a knockout to win this fight in the closing rounds.
Now for the joke: The American judge had the fight 119 – 109 Cunningham… which is the way everyone with half a brain had it. The other two judges had it 116-112, 115 – 113 for Wlodarczyk. Cunningham had to use different gloves, deal with the fact that a judge was pulled and replaced at the last minute, and there was no urine test following the fight. I have said it before, and I will say it again, as an American fighter, you cannot go into that kind of environment, and think “decision”. You need a knock out, or you need to at least take your opponent off their feet once in awhile. I know that Steve knows he could have done more, and I can guarantee that if they fight again, Wlodarczyk will be listening to a different punch line, on his back.
Cunningham had this to say following the bout:
“This is my livelihood. This is how I put food on my table. Despite all those factors, I won the fight. Before the fight, everyone told me that every time he threw a punch the crowd would be roaring. I really didn’t hear them at all during the fight, so that should tell you how effective he was during the fight”
“I demand an immediate rematch. This time let’s do in the States. He may have got the decision and maybe he has that belt but I know I am the champion.”
Mike Cassell
www.philaboxingreport.com
The Philadelphia Boxing Report
ESPN RADIO Philadelphia