OnThEGRiND BoXiNG

Wednesday April 22nd, 2009
by K.M. Stansen

The OnThEGRiND BoXiNG family was recently treated to the pleasure of listening to Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, a real world old school throwback gem, tell it like it is with great information into what goes on in the life of a highly avoided elite level boxer. For the readers whom aren’t familiar with Steve, I’d like to assert that he’s a near P4P kind of talent with a true champions mentality in that he will fight anybody, anywhere, anytime and will go for the risks that the majority of fighters today will not. Throwbacks are sadly a dying breed in this day and age although we still have some fearless warriors that are keeping the dim, flickering flame in the throwback fighter’s lantern steadily burning.

Not only did I personally get to listen to a great interview with a guy who doesn’t get much press, but I was also graciously pleased to participate in interviewing the tough nosed ’slickster’ with the rest of the OnThEGRiND BoXiNG crew and found many suspicions about boxing’s back door activities further confirmed. Cunningham is highly avoided because he does not bring the money and he’s trouble for anybody, it’s no surprise that David Haye sought after an aged fighter in Mormeck and a fragile fighter in Macarrinelli to serve as his platform for creating a stable basis for his own marketing and jump to the pathetic division north of 200. I cannot however call upon David Haye for this too much because it’s just business after all and the casual fan would not know in the slightest of the difference in caliber of fighter anyway, not to mention that Haye recently gave into ridiculous demands to land fights with two of the most boring fighters in boxing. So, best of luck to you David Haye in the quest to dismount both of those boring Tolkien Ent’s.

Back to the topic at hand, Cunningham, like other poorly promoted top class fighters has had to do everything the hard way. I find that these types are the most respectable boxers of all, they know what hardship is and are generally great people. A guy like Cunningham has to fight all of the guys that none of the celebrity-like fighters want as they are too dangerous for low pay, though often they are superior fighters to the name sake giants of boxing. As a hardcore fan that both cares about the sports combatants that I enjoy and relates to their journey for personal success, I have had to come realize that this unsightly injustice is not going to change anytime soon, though I don’t accept it in the same right. Steve’s fought Adamek, Huck, Wlodarcyzk twice, Davis and even the most avoided Guillermo Jones. Quite the competition here I assure you and some of these names are perhaps foreign, but that alone is no single judgment in quality.

What is more so inspirational about Cunningham is that he goes and fights these guys on their turf and their terms, placing all odds against him. He shed light on a number of factors in the great interview that he gave for OnThEGRiND BoXiNG RaDIo that I’d advise anyone interested to check out. Everything from politics, to steroid abuse and what it’s like having to play the character of the throwback warrior in midst of a sea of shams just looking to make quick money.

I belong to the mindset that Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham’s split decision victory over Guillermo Jones is 3x more impressive than both of David Haye’s victories over Jean Marc Mormeck and Enzo Macarrinelli. Jones is a monster when he’s on and if he was given the chance to face the best in the division, you’d see many bewildered faces. Steve’s losing effort with another great fighter that doesn’t get his due and also has to fight the guys that the celebrity boxers don’t want in Tomasz Adamek did him wonders hopefully, it was a fight of the year kind of deal and Steve only lost it by a inches margin on the cards because of several knockdowns. This of course is a credit to Adamek’s jack hammer of a short right hand, but the skillful and entertaining showcase from Cunningham said much about him as a championship boxer.

In closing, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham is a great fighter, great person and will fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. Here’s to hoping he gets all of the chances in the future from here on out to prove his merits in the prized square.