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STEVE ‘USS’ CUNNINGHAM

Two Time IBF Cruiserweight Champion Of The World

Two Time ‘Fighter of The Year’ Briscoe Award Recipient

By Rio

Philadelphia, PA - Wednesday, 12th October 2011

Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham Awarded ‘Fighter of The Year’ Briscoe For Second Time

Two time IBF Cruiserweight Champion of the World Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham became the first two time Briscoe Award winner, after receiving his second ‘Fighter Of The Year’ award, at the 4th Annual Briscoe Awards, which took place at the VBA Club in Port Richmond, PA, on Monday evening.

Cunningham, who was awarded the 2007 ‘Fighter of the Year’ Briscoe ahead of his December ‘08 ‘Fight of the Year’ nominated battle against Tomasz Adamek, was put forward for his second Briscoe after securing the IBF title for the second time, and won based on votes cast by boxing fans, boxing media, and the readers of the Web site PhillyBoxingHistory.com.

Speaking from his Philadelphia home earlier today Cunningham said, “Being voted Philly’s boxer of the year for 2010 means a lot to me.

I don’t get to fight at home and so my Philly fans don’t really get to see me fight, so to be recognized was special.

The event was great, a lot of people came out to show support.

I would like to thank John Di Santo, he works really hard keeping Philly’s boxing history alive and organizing the awards, I appreciate all that he does for Philly boxing.”

Also receiving Briscoe Awards on Monday were, Derek ‘Pooh’ Ennis and ‘King’ Gabriel Rosado, for their classic 12-round war, which received the ‘2010 Philly Fight of the Year’. Ennis won the fight, but both boxers rightly won the ‘Briscoe’.

Dhafir Smith won a special Briscoe Award for his ‘Upset of the Year’, for his magnificent victory over former world champion Jeff Lacy. Smith defied all odds by going onto Lacy’s own back yard to battle his way to a major upset victory.

Amateur star Damon Allen, Jr. won the ‘Everett Brothers Award’ which is presented by Eddie Everett and Mike Everett in the name of their deceased brother Tyrone and their family’s great boxing tradition.

PHOTO

Steve Cunningham receives his second Briscoe Award from John Di Santo

PHOTO CREDIT

Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

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Two Time IBF Cruiserweight Champion Of The World STEVE ‘USS’ CUNNINGHAM Vs YOAN PABLO HERNANDEZ - IBF World Cruiserweight Championship 1st October 2011 - Neubrandenburg, Germany

By Rio

London - Thursday 29th September 2011

TRAD Sponsor Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham For Oct 1st Title Defense.

Two time IBF Cruiserweight Champion of The World Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham and TRAD Group Chairman Hayden Smith jointly announced today that the London headquartered TRAD Group were sponsoring his title defense at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany on Saturday 1st October, which will be broadcast live in the UK on BoxNation (Sky Channel 456).

The sponsorship arrangement came about as Steve, who will be making the second defense of his second reign as IBF Champ against the WBA Interim Champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez on Saturday, has strong links with London and more specifically the TRAD sponsored TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town.

On making the announcement Steve said, “I’m real excited that my fight will be shown live in the UK on BoxNation and more so to be working with TRAD.

The UK has great boxing fans and I hope to one day fight there.”

Speaking from the TRAD headquarters in Bow, East London, Hayden Smith then added, “Steve is a great Champion, we are proud to be associated with him and his upcoming fight.

We’re really pleased that the fight is to be broadcast in the UK, on BoxNation. British fans will get to watch one of the World’s best boxers in action, live, for the first time. I know that they will become fans just as we all are.”

Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham versus Yoan Pablo Hernandez for the IBF World Cruiserweight title takes place at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany on Saturday 1st October 2011 and will be broadcast live in the UK on BoxNation (Sky Channel 456).

London boxing fans will also be able to watch the event live at the Boxers Bar, 9 Christopher Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 2BS

About TRAD Group

TRAD Scaffolding, established 40 years ago, is the market leading British scaffolding company.

TRAD Hire & Sales is one of the UK’s market leaders for the supply of scaffold tube, fittings, boards, system scaffolding, stair towers, temporary roofing systems and associated equipment.

TRAD Safety Systems was founded in 2003, and is an integral part of the

TRAD Group of Companies.

All the products TRAD stock are of the highest quality and comply fully with all relevant British or European Standards. In addition, with their commitment to exceeding all safety standards, all their products, whether sourced internationally or within the UK, are subject to thorough testing by qualified external UK testing bodies.

The quality of TRAD’s After-Sales service is also renowned, providing customer support throughout the life of their project. At TRAD Hire & Sales they only have one standard – the highest.

TRAD are one the first, along with only 19 other companies from across the UK to achieve FORS Silver accreditation.

In June 2011 Hayden Smith’s TRAD Group became title sponsor of the TKO Gym in Canning Town, London.

For further information on TRAD Hire & Sales and other companies with the TRAD Group - TRAD Scaffolding, TRAD Hire & Sales and TRAD Safety Systems - see the TRAD Group website: www.trad.co.uk

PHOTO: Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham and Yoan Pablo Hernandez

PHOTO CREDIT: Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

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Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham - A True World Champion, In the Fullest Sense Of The Word

By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

On Saturday Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, will make his first defense, of his second reign, as the IBF Cruiserweight Champion of World against the tough Serbian born Enad Licina at the RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle in Muelheim, Germany.

During his career Cunningham has proven to be one of the few World Champions who is unfazed by fighting on his opponent’s home turf. In fact it seems that he actually thrives on this type of challenge, which is handy because on Saturday night Cunningham will again be fighting in his opponent’s home country - Licina has fought eighteen times, out of his twenty one fight career, in his adopted homeland of Germany.

Cunningham, who had fought all over America before hitting the International scene, has never had a true ‘home’ fight, the nearest he fought to his home city of Philadelphia being when he faced Tomasz ‘Goral’ Adamek in Newark, New Jersey back in 2008.

Ports of call for the former Navy man include Brakpan, South Africa, where he beat former WBU & IBO Cruiserweight Champion Sebastiaan Rothmann, Katowice and Warsaw in Poland, Bielefeld and Neubrandenburg in Germany.

Both of Cunningham’s Championship winning bouts took place in Europe. His first, against Krzysztof ‘Diablo’ Wlodarczyk was at the Spodek in Katowice, Poland on the 26th May 2007. This was Steve’s second trip to Poland to face Wlodarczyk following a highly controversial ‘Home Cooked’ split decision in favour of ‘Diablo’ when they first met in Warsaw for the vacant title some six months earlier.

At the IBF ordered rematch Cunningham plain outboxed Wlodarczyk, as he did the previous time, and in the fourth round forced Wlodarczyk to take to one knee for a count which proved to be just enough to overcome any home advantage Wlodarczyk held and for Cunningham to emerge victorious.

For his first defense the globe trotting Cunningham set sail for Germany and a meeting with Marco “Kapt’n” Huck on the 29th December 2007. Against Huck, the bookies favourite, Cunningham looked stronger, tougher and harder punching than he had either time against Wlodarczyk. Huck was struggling to hold up against Cunningham’s aggressive approach and was being backed up and hurt nearly every round. The final round was an even more one sided affair with Cunningham chasing Huck around the ring throwing heavy right after heavy right until Huck’s corner, with just one minute and 4 seconds to go, threw the towel in the ring to save their charge further punishment or worse still a knockout loss.

Next up for Cunningham was a far shorter trip, just an hour or so train journey from his Philadelphia home, to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey to face Jersey City based Polish expat Tomasz “Goral” Adamek. Whilst on paper this could be deemed a home fight for Cunningham to those ringside it felt more an away match due to many Polish fans that had turned out to support their hero.

From the opening bell Cunningham out punched Adamek and looked set to cruise his way through the fight dominating and controlling it in supreme style. However in the second round, just as Cunningham looked to be going for an early finish, Adamek threw a countering hook catching Cunningham with his forearm and sending Cunningham off balance and down to the canvas. Cunningham jumped up in an instant.

Determined to win back the lost points, Cunningham fought even harder and in the fourth had Adamek reeling and rocking. With just seconds to go Adamek, who had barely thrown a punch for almost the whole round, caught the off balance Cunningham and put him on the deck once more. Again Cunningham leaps to his feet after barely touching the canvas.

With two knockdowns against him Cunningham seemed determined to go for a knockout and looked well on his way to getting it when in the eighth the very same thing happened again. Just as Cunningham looked to finish his challenger off after a frantic exchange, Adamek caught a fast back stepping Cunningham off balance to send him down again, Cunningham was up again before the referee could even start the count.

The final rounds were superb Cunningham fought like a demon to try and make up the lost points and Adamek fought hard for survival.

When the final bell rang the consensus of the majority of the press corps was that the champ had done enough to be declared victor or, at least earn a draw to retain his crown. However the judges saw it differently and gave the victory to Adamek by split decision.

This battle was so magnificent that the vast majority of press reports claimed Cunningham-Adamek the all-time best cruiserweight fight and contender for ‘Fight Of The Year 2008’ honours as well as calling for a rematch.

Cunningham’s hopes of a voluntary rematch with Adamek failed to materialise, instead Cunningham was ordered to face former WBC Champion Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite, at the BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida on the 11th July 2009, in an IBF final eliminator that decided who will be Tomasz ‘Goral’ Adamek’s mandatory defense later that year.

Cunningham won the fight easily via a twelve round unanimous decision (119-109, 117-111, 118-110) and the scene was set for the long awaited rematch with Adamek.

However, the fight was destined to never happen as Adamek vacated the title and moved to the Heavyweight Division.

Originally Cunningham was set to face Matt ‘Too Smooth’ Godfrey for the now vacated title but due to a rather confusing series of events that first see Don King Promotions pull the plug on the fight closely followed by Main Events’ Kathy Duva coming to the rescue, by taking over the ESPN televised event promotion.

Cunningham continued training throughout, but for some reason Godfrey decided to leave his training camp and subsequently pulled out of the fight.

Shortly after the Godfrey fight fiasco Cunningham’s eight year promotional contract with Don King Promotions came to an end and he signed with German promoters Sauerland Event.

Within a week of signing promotional papers with Sauerland the IBF announced that Troy Ross would be his next opponent following swift negotiations between Sauerland and Ross’ promoter Yvon Michel.

Once again the globe trotting ‘USS’ Cunningham prepared to leave his Philadelphia home and set sail for Europe.

On the 5th June 2010 Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham faced Canada’s Troy ‘The Boss’ Ross, at the Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg in Germany, for the vacant IBF Cruiserweight crown.

From the first bell Cunningham dominated the center of the ring using his wickedly fast jabs to keep the shorter Ross at bay. Ross, a seriously tough southpaw, seemed willing to take a few punches in order to get in closer to let off some wicked bombs.

Rounds two and three produced more of the same, although Ross was getting a little more success. The problem for Ross though was that his getting in more also meant he was taking more shots, causing noticeable swelling to his left eye.

Round four produced both a serious problem for Ross, who received a serious cut to the lower eyelid, and a scare for the Cunningham team as they see their man reel backwards and down to the canvas following a straight left to the chest.

Thoughts of a repeat scenario to the Adamek fight were dispelled within minutes as prior to the start of the fifth the referee, Bill Clancy, sent Cunningham to a neutral corner and called for the ringside doctor to check out Ross’ badly cut eye. The doctor had no choice but to stop the fight as it was clear that the Canadian’s eye injury was serious.

Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham was once again the IBF Cruiserweight Champion of the World which brings us nicely to date with Cunningham set to defend his newly regained crown against the seriously tough former IBF Inter-Continental Cruiserweight Champion Enad Licina on Saturday 12th February 2011.

Cunningham will have his hands full with the heavy hitting Licina, who has stopped ten of his opponents, however Cunningham’s 3” height advantage and superior reach, along with his seriously impressive movement and hand speed, could well be hurdles that Licina may not be able to overcome with his shuffling European style, which has been likened to that of Marco Huck - and of course we all know what happened when Cunningham met Huck.

Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham versus Enad Licina for the IBF Cruiserweight World Championship co-headlines with Cuban Yoan Pablo Hernandez versus France’s Steve ‘Centurion’ Herelius for the interim WBA Cruiserweight World title at the RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Muelheim, Germany on Saturday 12th February 2011.

Supporting the two Cruiserweight Championship headliners, at the Sauerland Event promoted show, are ‘King’ Arthur Abraham against Stjepan Bozic in a ten round Super Middleweight clash, Dominik Britsch versus Joe Rea in an eight round Middleweight bout, Francesco Pianeta faces Samir Kurtagic in an eight round Heavyweight contest.

In addition there are three Light Heavyweight bouts - Eduard Gutknecht vs. Oleksandr Cherviak, Karo Murat vs. Christian Cruz and Erik Skoglund vs. Valerijs Rogozins.

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By Rio

London - Tuesday 9th November 2010

Bermondsey’s Marianne Marston Looks To Follow In David Haye’s Footsteps
As Bermondsey, South London’s most famous boxing son David ‘Hayemaker’ Haye enters the final stages of his preparations to defend his WBA Heavyweight World title against former Olympic Gold medalist Audley Harrison, in Manchester on the 13th November, another Bermondsey resident, Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston, prepares to begin her journey as a professional boxer with World Championship aspirations, a little closer to home at York Hall in Bethnal Green, East London, just a few weeks later on the 4th December.
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Whilst we all know David’s story - excellent amateur career, as a professional only lost one fight in 25 outings, secured the European, WBC, WBA and WBO Cruiserweight titles and then after only his second fight at the weight lifted the WBA World Heavyweight title after beating Nikolay Valuev - Marianne’s is just as impressive, albeit in a very different way.
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Marianne’s story is far more international than local. She was discovered and mentored by legendary Heavyweight Champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier, who went on record stating Marianne will be World Champion, and was very much part of Cruiserweight Champion of the World Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham’s Philadelphia based team before returning to London where she is now managed by Johnny Eames and trained by Derek Grainger at their Ultrachem TKO Gym team in Canning Town.
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Marianne explained how she came to be trained in America in the first place, “It was while I was on a business trip, I accidentally met Joe Frazier at a coffee shop in Philadelphia. I didn’t even realise it was him at the time.

The only spare places were at my table and Joe asked if it was OK to sit there. We got talking and the conversation got onto boxing and I told him I had been training a bit. He asked me to show him my shadow boxing, so I did. He then told me who he was and gave me a card, which I still have and treasure, and then said to come and try out at his gym.
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I was so nervous, I mean this is the man that beat Ali and was World Champion. I mean he’s a legend. Anyway I did, he liked me and asked me to join his team.

Unfortunately Joe had to close the gym in 2008 so I moved my training to The James Shuler Memorial Gym in West Philadelphia.
After I had been training there a couple of months Steve and Livvy (Cunningham) invited me to be part of their team. I really loved my time at Shulers, that place is a true fight factory. I would be training alongside Steve, Eddie (‘Fast’ Eddie Chambers), Yusuf (Mack) and many other champions. It was awesome.”

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Her clear ability earned her the kudos of being offered an unprecedented twelve fight contract by American promoter Ivan Cohen. Her American debut was due to be in May last year against former American sparring partner Christina Leadbeater. Unfortunately that was not to be as when her required visa was turned down by the American Embassy in London.

“It was like being stabbed through the heart” Marianne said of the Embassy refusing her visa. “They said that Women’s boxing is not a professional sport. It’s crazy I had all the right paperwork and a twelve fight contract in my hand yet they wouldn’t take me seriously. It had been OK for me to train in America, have a home in America but they wouldn’t let me box professionally in America.
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Ivan (Cohen) went berserk hearing that, so did the Philadelphia press who campaigned for me to be allowed to fight there.”
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Not being one to give up on her dream Marianne initially went to a local gym at London Bridge before moving to the Ultrachem TKO Gym in Canning Town where she impressed Johnny Eames, whose disapproval of Women’s boxing is legendary, and became the first female boxer signed to his highly successful boxing stable.
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“It’s an honour to be part of the Ultrachem TKO team. TKO is just like Shulers it’s a true pro boxing gym, it really is the best boxing gym in Europe.” Marianne said of her UK training base. “Shulers has some of America’s best coaches and fighters, TKO has many of the UK’s best. It even feels like Shulers at times, I feel really at home there. I mean they are great coaches and I train alongside some world class British fighters.
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On only my second day at TKO I was shadow boxing in one of the rings and Kevin Mitchell climbed in and shadow boxed alongside me. I stopped at one point as I had spotted a move he had made out of the corner of my eye.
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During the break I mentioned it to him and he showed me exactly what the move was. He was preparing for his fight with Michael Katsides at the time yet he took the time to help me. Now that’s class. That’s TKO.

Derek (Grainger) was a great boxer and is an top class coach. But it’s not just Derek when you’re a TKO fighter. If Derek can’t make it in for any reason I am coached by Johnny (Eames) or Alec (Wilkey) and Brian (Lawrence), Jimmy (Tibbs) and Mark (Tibbs) often watch the sparring and give advice, as do some of the fighters. It really is a family, everyone cares about every fighter and will help when they can.”
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Marianne’s British debut will be against the very tough Lana Cooper from Wales, as such Johnny Eames arranged quality sparring with the highly experienced Welterweight Angel ‘The Artist’ McKenzie and the UK’s number one Lightweight Laura Saperstein, who have both fought Lana Cooper, as well as Olympian Ruth Raper and unbeaten Bantamweight Laura Norton to ensure she will be fight ready.
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“There’s nothing like good sparring to get ready for a fight and Johnny and Derek have got me the best.” Marianne said, “I’ve sparred with Angel a lot and also previously sparred Ruth but have yet to spar either Laura and am looking forward to our sessions over the coming weeks.

With the world class training and sparring I will be 100% ready for Lana. We’re both pressure fighters so I expect it to be a real tear up. I’ll enjoy that, I’m ready for that.”
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We couldn’t let Marianne go without first asking who she expects to win the upcoming David ‘Hayemaker’ Haye versus Audley ‘A Force’ Harrison fight. “I was there, right in the front row, when Audley knocked out Michael Sprott for the European title.” Marianne said before continuing, “It was a wicked left, lethal. but that’s about all he did all fight, Michael was less than two minutes from winning by a clear margin.

I think David is by far the more complete boxer. Against Valuev he stayed out of range, attacked at pace and got out before Valuev could let rip with any big shots. I think he’ll do the same with Audley. Definitely David Haye will still be the champ at the end of the night.”
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Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston versus Lana Cooper will be supporting Yassine El Maachi defense of his International Masters Light Middleweight title, against Jimmy Colas at the Steve Goodwin promoted “Judgement Day” double title event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday the 4th December 2010.

For tickets, priced £35 (Unreserved) and £60 (Ringside), call 07960 850645, book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person at The Ultrachem TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA.

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Photos

Marianne receiving instruction from Joe Frazier

Marianne with Kevin Mitchell at the Ultrachem TKO Gym

Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston

Photo Credits: Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
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