Steve Cunningham


Steven Ormain Cunningham is an American professional boxer who held the IBF cruiserweight title twice between 2007 and 2011. His nickname, "USS", is a reference to his US Navy service on the aircraft carriers and between 1994 and 1998.

Early life

A native of Philadelphia, Cunningham gained a reputation as a tough fighter on the streets of Philly, but he began his amateur career while based at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. Cunningham served in the Navy from 1994 to 1998, serving on the aircraft carriers and.

Amateur career

Cunningham started boxing at the age of 19, and won the National Golden Gloves title in 1998 as an amateur.

Professional career

Cunningham began his professional career in 2000 with a 19 fight winning streak including a split decision over Guillermo Jones.
On November 26, 2006, he challenged Krzysztof Włodarczyk for the Vacant IBF Cruiserweight Title but lost by a disputed split decision in front of Wlodarczyk's fans in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. Later, Cunningham challenged Wlodarczyk again in the summer of 2007. With a majority decision in his favor, Cunningham at last won the title.
He stopped undefeated Marco Huck in Germany in December 2007.
Cunningham lost the IBF title against Tomasz Adamek in Newark, New Jersey, on December 11, 2008. He lost the fight via split decision. One judge scored the fight 114–112 for Cunningham, while the other two judges scored it 116–110 and 115–112 for Adamek. Fight was close although Cunningham was knocked down in the second, fourth, and eighth rounds.
Cunningham faced former WBC Cruiserweight Champion Wayne Braithwaite, at the BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida on the July 11, 2009, and won the fight via a twelve-round unanimous decision 119–109, 117–111, and 118–110. On June 5, 2010, Cunningham regained the IBF Cruiserweight title with a fifth round stoppage on cuts of Troy Ross in Germany. Cunningham returned to Germany to defend his IBF title against challenger Enad Licina on February 12, 2011.

Cunningham vs. Fury

Cunningham was knocked out in the seventh round by Tyson Fury, a British boxer, in an IBF heavyweight title eliminator on April 20, 2013. Cunningham had the much bigger Fury down in the second round. At the time of the stoppage, Cunningham was winning the fight with 56–56, 57–55, and 57–55. In an interview with Joe Rogan, Fury claimed Cunningham was the toughest opponent of his career.
After being promoted by Kathy Duva and Main Events for several years, he was now advised by Al Haymon. Cunningham was trained by Naazim Richardson.

Cunningham vs. Glowacki

On April 16, 2016, Cunningham fought Krzysztof Glowacki for his WBO world cruiserweight belt. Glowacki dropped Cunningham four times, twice in the second round, and once in both the tenth and the twelfth round en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Cunningham vs. Tabiti

On August 26, 2017, Cunningham fought Andrew Tabiti. Tabiti was ranked #4 by the WBC, #9 by the IBF and #12 by the WBA at cruiserweight, while Cunningham was ranked #10 by the IBF at the time. Tabiti won the fight via unanimous decision, 100–90, 97–93 and 97–93.

Cunningham vs. Mir

Cunningham defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir by unanimous decision in Mir's boxing debut on April 17, 2021, on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren. Cunningham served as a replacement for Antonio Tarver who was denied clearance by the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission.

Outside of boxing

He joined light-middleweight Boyd Melson, Shawn Estrada, Demetrius Andrade and other boxers in Team Fight to Walk, an organization focused on increasing awareness in boxing of the importance of stem cell research for spinal cord injuries.
Cunningham is a practicing Black Hebrew Israelite.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
40WinFrank MirUD6Apr 17, 2021Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
39Loss29–9–1Andrew TabitiUD10Aug 26, 2017T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For NABF cruiserweight title
38Win29–8–1Felipe RomeroUD6Mar 17, 2017Santander Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
37Loss28–8–1Krzysztof GłowackiUD12Apr 16, 2016Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.For WBO cruiserweight title
36Draw28–7–1Antonio Tarver12Aug 14, 2015Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
35Loss28–7Vyacheslav GlazkovUD12Mar 14, 2015Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaLost USBA heavyweight title
34Win28–6Natu Visinia7, 3:00Oct 18, 20142300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
33Win27–6Amir MansourUD10Apr 4, 2014Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Won USBA heavyweight title
32Win26–6Manuel QuezadaUD8Dec 14, 2013Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
31Loss25–6Tyson FuryKO7, 2:55Apr 20, 2013The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
30Loss25–5Tomasz AdamekSD12Dec 22, 2012Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.For IBF North American heavyweight title
29Win25–4Jason GavernUD10Sep 8, 2012Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
28Loss24–4Yoan Pablo HernándezUD12Feb 4, 2012Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, GermanyFor IBF cruiserweight title;
For vacant The Ring cruiserweight title
27Loss24–3Yoan Pablo Hernández6, 3:00Oct 1, 2011Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, GermanyLost IBF cruiserweight title;
Split TD after Hernández cut from accidental head clash
26Win24–2Enad LicinaUD12Feb 12, 2011RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Mülheim, GermanyRetained IBF cruiserweight title
25Win23–2Troy RossTKO5, 0:01Jun 5, 2010Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, GermanyWon vacant IBF cruiserweight title
24Win22–2Wayne BraithwaiteUD12Jul 11, 2009BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
23Loss21–2Tomasz AdamekSD12Dec 11, 2008Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Lost IBF cruiserweight title;
For vacant The Ring cruiserweight title
22Win21–1Marco HuckTKO12, 1:56Dec 29, 2007Seidensticker Halle, Bielefeld, GermanyRetained IBF cruiserweight title
21Win20–1Krzysztof WłodarczykMD12May 26, 2007Spodek, Katowice, PolandWon IBF cruiserweight title
20Loss19–1Krzysztof WłodarczykSD12Nov 25, 2006Torwar Hall, Warsaw, PolandFor vacant IBF cruiserweight title
19Win19–0Lloyd BryanTKO5, 1:10Jan 7, 2006Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
18Win18–0Kelvin DavisUD12Sep 3, 2005Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
17Win17–0Guillermo JonesSD10Apr 2, 2005DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
16Win16–0Forrest NealTKO4, 0:53Oct 2, 2004Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
15Win15–0Sebastiaan Rothmann10May 22, 2004Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
14Win14–0Terry McGroomUD8Sep 20, 2003Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
13Win13–0Demetrius JenkinsUD8Mar 29, 2003Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
12Win12–0Joseph Awinongya8Jul 27, 2002Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
11Win11–0Caseny TruesdalePTS4Sep 29, 2001Martinsville, Virginia, U.S.
10Win10–0Shawn TownsendTKO3Aug 30, 2001Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
9Win9–0Shawn TownsendTKO6Jul 26, 2001Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
8Win8–0John BattleKO1Jun 28, 2001The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
7Win7–0Mike WilliamsTKO6May 24, 2001The Plex, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
6Win6–0Richard PerryKO1May 12, 2001Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
5Win5–0Jeff Bowman1Apr 28, 2001Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
4Win4–0Kanovas AlexanderKO1Apr 12, 2001Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
3Win3–0Nate Frazier1Mar 10, 2001Virginia, U.S.
2Win2–0Robert Marsh4Feb 17, 2001Radisson Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
1Win1–0Norman Jones4Oct 28, 2000Jarrell's Boxing Gym, Savannah, Georgia, U.S.