Steve Cunningham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Cunningham
Cunningham in 2023
Statistics
Real name	Steven Ormain Cunningham
Nickname(s)	USS
Rated at	Cruiserweight Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 3 in
Reach	82 in
Nationality	American
Born	(1976-07-15) July 15, 1976 (age 49) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	40
Wins	30
Wins by KO	13
Losses	9
Draws	1

Steven Ormain Cunningham (born July 15, 1976) is an American professional boxer. He was a champion in the cruiserweight division, holding the IBF title two times between 2007 and 2011. His nickname, "USS", comes from his time serving in the U.S. Navy on large ships called aircraft carriers.

Early Life and Navy Service

Steve Cunningham grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was known as a strong fighter even before he started boxing professionally. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1994 and served until 1998. During his time in the Navy, he was stationed at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. He worked on two famous aircraft carriers: the USS America and the USS Enterprise.

Starting His Boxing Journey

Amateur Boxing Career

Steve Cunningham began boxing when he was 19 years old. He quickly showed his talent. In 1998, he won a big amateur boxing competition called the National Golden Gloves. He won the title in the 178-pound weight class.

Becoming a Professional Boxer

Cunningham started his professional boxing career in 2000. He had an amazing start, winning his first 19 fights in a row. One of these early wins was a close fight against another boxer named Guillermo Jones.

Championship Fights

Winning the IBF Cruiserweight Title

In November 2006, Steve Cunningham fought Krzysztof Włodarczyk for the IBF Cruiserweight Title. The fight was in Poland, and Cunningham lost by a very close decision. However, he got another chance to fight Włodarczyk in the summer of 2007. This time, Cunningham won the title! He then successfully defended his title against Marco Huck in Germany in December 2007.

Losing and Regaining the Title

Cunningham lost his IBF title to Tomasz Adamek in December 2008 in Newark, New Jersey. It was a tough fight, and Cunningham was knocked down a few times. Even though it was a close match, Adamek won by a split decision.

After that, Cunningham fought Wayne Braithwaite in July 2009 and won. Then, in June 2010, he went back to Germany and won the IBF Cruiserweight title again! He stopped Troy Ross in the fifth round. Cunningham defended his title once more in February 2011 against Enad Licina.

Notable Heavyweight Fights

Cunningham vs. Fury

In April 2013, Cunningham moved up to the Heavyweight division to fight the much larger British boxer, Tyson Fury. This was an important fight to see who would get a chance at the IBF heavyweight title. Cunningham surprised many by knocking Fury down in the second round. Even though Cunningham was ahead on the judges' scorecards, Fury won the fight by knockout in the seventh round. Later, Tyson Fury said that Cunningham was one of the toughest opponents he had ever faced.

Cunningham vs. Glowacki

On April 16, 2016, Steve Cunningham fought Krzysztof Głowacki for the WBO world cruiserweight belt. Glowacki knocked Cunningham down four times during the fight. Glowacki won the fight by a unanimous decision from the judges.

Cunningham vs. Tabiti

In August 2017, Cunningham fought Andrew Tabiti. Tabiti won the fight by a unanimous decision after ten rounds.

Cunningham vs. Mir

In April 2021, Steve Cunningham fought Frank Mir, who was a former champion in UFC (mixed martial arts). This was Mir's first professional boxing match. Cunningham won the fight by a unanimous decision.

Beyond the Boxing Ring

Steve Cunningham is also involved in important causes outside of boxing. He joined other boxers in a group called Team Fight to Walk. This group helps raise awareness about stem cell research, which is important for people with spinal cord injuries.

Cunningham is also a practicing Black Hebrew Israelite.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

Steve Cunningham had a long and successful career. Here's a quick look at his professional record:

See also

In Spanish: Steve Cunningham para niños