Click for larger image © Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

As IBF Cruiserweight Champion Tomasz ‘Goral’ Adamek has confirmed that his next opponent is to be Johnathon Banks, this decision thwarts the efforts of former cruiserweight king Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham and his team to secure the quick rematch with Adamek they have been campaigning for.

Cunningham took a little time off from training to give his views on Adamek vs Banks. “To me, that fight could go either way," he said. "You know, Johnathon Banks can crack. He had that big fight against Eliseo Castillo and he got hit and took a big shot but came back and finished that guy.

"That’s a good bangers fight. Adamek’s got a pretty good European style with power, so there’ll be some fireworks in that fight. I want the winner!

"I still believe I am the best cruiserweight in the world. I know the audience and the fans see that in my last fight. I don’t consider that a loss. I feel like I won. I lost the decision, but feel that I won the fight. Two time in ‘09 is my plan. We’ll be back, I can’t wait to see what will unfold in the future.”

Originally, Banks was due to fight Enzo Maccarinelli for the WBO Cruiserweight title in March, but with that scrapped and with most of the other top names in the division having fights already arranged over the coming months, could this be an opportunity for ‘USS’ Cunningham to set sail across the Atlantic again?

Cunningham obviously feels it is as he said, “My first choice would be to fight Tomasz Adamek again. But it’s clear he is avoiding me as he is already planning another fight in June, and talking about other fighters. He’s running scared!

"If the WBO would take it, I would jump in there and fight Enzo Maccarinelli. I’m always up for going to Europe, I’m used to fighting there.

"It would be a very exciting fight. A real battle and great TV. The British fans are great fans, really enthusiastic, you know, just like the Polish fans. It would be an awesome atmosphere.”

Maccarinelli vs. Cunningham is a mouth watering prospect that could quite easily surpass the classic Cunningham vs. Adamek IBF title fight for action
and drama as well as having genuine “Fight of the Year” potential.

What’s more, the possibility of the match being made appears quite good since Maccarinelli’s promoter, Frank Warren’s Sports Network, are already
working with Don King Productions, Cunningham’s promoter, on this event as Amir Khan is to face another DKP charge, multi-weight champion Marco
Antonio Barrera.

But what if this fight couldn’t be made for whatever reason? Who would ‘USS’ Cunningham be focusing on as possible opponents?

“I don’t really have any preference on who I fight," said Cunningham. "I’m taking on all comers. I’m calling out all comers. I want to be champion again and it doesn’t matter which one. In Jesus’ name, man, let ‘em all come on.

"I’ll take them all it doesn’t matter. I’ll take on any top contender and any fight that can get me to Tomasz’s throne. Even a non-title fight just to get me back in there again and on target for my main goal; to get my IBF title back!”

For news on Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham go to www.usscunningham.com

For news on the campaign for Adamek-Cunningham II go to www.wewantarematch.com

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