Ex-IBF Boxing Champ Cunningham Dispels Injury Rumor

ByBoxing Press


© Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

Since the convincing victory over former WBC champ Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite, at the IBF Cruiserweight title eliminator at Sunrise, Florida on the 11th July, there has been surprisingly little news coming out of Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham’s camp.

This silence appears to have set the rumour mill spinning into overtime with many highly respected boxing publications and websites around the world publishing reports that Cunningham had injured his hand during the fight against Braithwaite and would not be ready for the proposed IBF title showdown with Adamek at the Prudential Center in Newark this coming October.

Cunningham, who had in fact taken a well deserved extended holiday in Las Vegas with his family following the magnificent victory, became aware of the rumours after receiving calls from concerned friends and journalists regarding the reported injury on his return to training, under the guidance of “Trainer of the Year” Naazim Richardson at the James Shuler Memorial Gym in West Philadelphia, a few weeks ago.

Speaking for the first time on the alleged injury, Cunningham said, “I feel great coming off of my fight with Braithwaite. I’ve heard there are rumors that I am injured from the fight and that’s simply not true. I’ve been back in the gym for three weeks now and I feel great! I’m at 100%, I am ready, willing and able to fight anyone in my path!”

The published rumours, which were accredited to being from a highly respected boxing insider, threw doubt that the mouthwatering prospect of a rematch with Adamek, to whom Cunningham lost his coveted crown, by a close split decision, after the monumental “Fight of the Year” nominated battle royale back in December ‘08.

Around the same time as the rumours started to emerge so did reports that Adamek was to face fellow Polish hero Andzej Golota on October 10th, fueling further doubt on the rematch happening this year, if at all, as this would mean a move to heavyweight for Adamek.

The former Navy man, whilst not quite extinguishing the flames of doubt over the rematch happening, did hint that his next fight may indeed still be for the coveted IBF belt, he had so proudly worn until that fateful December night, by saying, “My team and I are in the process of determining what’s next for me. I’m in line for the title and I expect to be fighting for the belt very soon. We should have some big announcements soon. Two time, in ’09”