He admits he wishes he was graced with another inch or two in height and perhaps 25 pounds to his frame. It’s the difference between a few tax brackets and infinite stature within the game.
“Hopefully, we’ll work to that one day but right now, I got this business here and we can go from there. But yeah, 25 pounds bigger would be perfect,” Cunningham said wistfully. Even then, in an era of power forward-sized big men like the Klitschkos who dominate the division, Cunningham would be considered a “small” heavyweight. However, Cunningham believes he would be better served not becoming a full-blown aircraft carrier. “That would be ideal, actually, get up to 210. That would be perfect weight for a guy like me. Sorta like Evander Holyfield was. It’s perfect speed, lateral movement and probably a little more pop, so hopefully, we’ll be able to see that one day in the future.
He admits it’s something that’s been on his mind. “Oh, yeah. Yes, indeed. At this level, I’m a two-time world champion and I’ve made a fraction of what some of those guys have made without belts. So I would love to see a seven-figure payday. That would be awesome, at least once in my career, but like I said, me and my wife, we’re smart with our finances and we’re going to be happy but of course, you want to make more, try to do more.”
Don’t get the wrong idea; Cunningham is making a good living earning consistent six-figure paydays overseas. But what frustrates Cunningham is that in America, being a cruiserweight is almost like being a leper. “It’s maddening because the European fan base just looks at cruiserweights as fighters- just as Americans should. It’s just not on television. I don’t understand it but I’ve been trying to understand it for years and I just let it go and I guess that’s why I’m here,” he stated.
The cruiserweights are not among the original eight weight divisions (the division’s first title bout took place in 1979. Its first champion was crowned by the WBC after Marvin Camel outpointed Mate Parlov in a rematch after their first bout was ruled a draw). The biggest problem this division has had is that it sits right between the light heavyweight and heavyweight classifications. And outside of Evander Holyfield, there has never been an established American star in this division. The likes of James Toney, David Haye and Tomasz Adamek used this class (whose weight limit is now 200 pounds) as a jumping-off point to the much more lucrative heavyweight class.
Other than Holyfield’s run as the cruiser king and a fight like Toney’s slugfest with Vassiliy Jirov, it’s rare to see fights in this division on major premium cable networks in the United States. In many respects, being a standout cruiserweight in America is akin to being a highly regarded soccer player. To make any money, you have to travel abroad.
For Cunningham, even when he was able to defend his title on his home turf, it was almost as if he were on foreign land. When he faced Tomasz Adamek during his first run as the IBF beltholder, it was staged at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, not too far from Philly. But in reality, it was “Lil Warsaw” as the partisans were largely of Polish descent that night. It was an eye-opening reality check for Cunningham.
“After the fight, it was,” he admitted, of the exciting split-decision that went against him in December of 2008. “Before the fight and during the fight, y ‘know? I fought in Poland twice; I was used to that. I’d been fighting overseas; I’d been used to the crowd being against me. So going to Newark, I’m in the fight and know Newark had a big Polish population and I also knew me being an African-American fighter, I knew the Philly fan base doesn’t really follow you. Look at Bernard Hopkins; he’s probably one of the greatest fighters out of Philly and not because of his performance. It’s just the people. He didn’t even fill up the Liacouras Center or the Spectrum.
“So me going to Newark, I kinda knew the demographics. I knew the situation. But it was amazing; it was like Poland in Jersey,” he recalled, laughing. “It was like Polish Jersey. Still the job gotta get done and after the fight, it made me realize my stance in America as an African-American fighter too. The fan base really isn’t there for us for some reason. I know I’m not Mike Tyson but Mike Tyson had a large fan base. Roy Jones did also. So it wasn’t just being African-American. It was because he was knocking guys out. So everybody loves the knockout. I’m not a Mike Tyson-style fighter but it opened my eyes. I said, ‘Wow, it just really reinforced the situation with the cruiserweights. We gotta go overseas.’”
In many respects, Cunningham is a man without a country- or at least a weight division shunned by it. This is why Germany, of all places, is where he calls his boxing home. Even then, he’s the B-side against Hernandez, who seems to be the favored fighter of Sauerland Events, which promotes both boxers.
The 35-year-old Navy man simply cannot afford another loss. The last time he faced the southpaw Cuban, he was floored hard in the opening inning before taking control of the proceedings in the following rounds. Just as it seemed the fight was under control, it was halted due to a cut on Hernandez as the challenger was ahead on the cards. Cunningham will have to start quickly this weekend.
“I’ll start smart,” he clarified. “If it’s fast and smart, so be it. If it’s slow and smart, so be it. But the main thing is start smart. That’s it and finish spectacularly.”
APRIL 14TH
Speaking of Hopkins, it was announced last week that he’ll rematch Chad Dawson on April 14th in Atlantic City on HBO (cue the groaning). Now the question is, what will kick off the broadcast?
According to Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, “We were at one point looking at [Michael] Katsidis and [Antonio] DeMarco but Katsidis is not fighting at 135 anymore and so then, we were looking at maybe DeMarco against Jorge Linares, which is a fight that was ordered actually by the WBC but DeMarco has an interim fight. So he doesn’t want to do that fight straight away and so basically, I’m told that HBO is not interested in DeMarco on that card. And so I think it’s going to be Seth Mitchell on that card.”
PPD
As expected, with Andre Berto rupturing his left bicep during a sparring session on Monday afternoon, Golden Boy Promotions announced that his February 11th rematch with Victor Ortiz was postponed.
This was the press release sent out on Tuesday:
LOS ANGELES (January 31) - Due to a left biceps injury sustained while training on Monday, January 30, Andre Berto will be unable to compete in his scheduled February 11 SHOWTIME televised bout against Victor Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., forcing a cancellation of the event on that date. All parties involved are actively seeking a possible postponement date for Ortiz vs. Berto II.
Information regarding previously purchased tickets being honored for a possible postponement date will be released as it becomes available or, alternatively, ticketholders can contact their place of purchase for refunds.
More information will be announced as it becomes available.
SIGNING DAY FLURRIES
The Feb. 24th edition of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” featuring Cristobal Cruz vs. Juan Carlos Burgos has been moved from the Galen Center on the campus of USC in Los Angeles to Dover Downs Casino in Delaware for some reason. That’s a shame; a pretty good fight between two Mexicans fits a lot better in L.A. than Delaware...Before the HBO broadcast this weekend in San Antonio, HBO will air “2 Days: Portrait of a Fighter” on Saturday night (9:45 p.m. ET/ 6:45 p.m. PT), which takes an intimate look at a 48-hour span in the life of Brandon Rios before one of his bouts...It looks more and more like Eric Morel will face IBF bantamweight titlist Abner Mares on April 21st as part of a Showtime tripleheader...Seriously, “Family Guy” is still of a very high quality...Did anyone actually watch the Pro Bowl from beginning to end? If you did, you had to be gambling on it (and you need help)...Sorry, but Blake Griffin’s dunk over Kendrick Perkins is NOT the GOAT...I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com and I tweet at www.twitter.com/stevemaxboxing. We also have a Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/MaxBoxing.
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