Steve Cunningham

Steve "USS" Cunningham, a Philadelphia native born on July 15, 1976, carved out a remarkable career in professional boxing that spanned over two decades. Before stepping into the professional ranks, Cunningham served in the U.S. Navy from 1994 to 1998, where he honed his boxing skills and earned his nickname "USS" while serving on the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise. His amateur career culminated in winning the National Golden Gloves 178 lb title in 1998, setting the stage for his professional journey.

Cunningham made his professional debut on October 28, 2000, at Jarrell's Gym in Savannah, Georgia, securing a split decision victory over Norman Jones in a four-round bout. This win marked the beginning of an impressive 19-fight winning streak, which included a notable split decision triumph over the formidable Guillermo Jones. Cunningham's first shot at a world title came on November 26, 2006, when he challenged Krzysztof W?odarczyk for the vacant IBF Cruiserweight Title in Warsaw, Poland. Despite losing a controversial split decision, Cunningham's determination remained unshaken.

The Philadelphia fighter's perseverance paid off when he captured his first world title on May 26, 2007, defeating W?odarczyk via majority decision in their rematch in Katowice, Poland. Cunningham's reign as IBF Cruiserweight champion saw him successfully defend his title against Marco Huck before losing it to Tomasz Adamek in a split decision on December 11, 2008. Undeterred, Cunningham reclaimed the IBF Cruiserweight title on June 5, 2010, with a fifth-round TKO victory over Troy Ross in Germany.

Throughout his career, Cunningham faced a who's who of boxing talent, including Wayne Braithwaite, Yoan Pablo Hernández, Tyson Fury, and Antonio Tarver. His bout against Fury in April 2013 was particularly memorable, as Cunningham, despite being outweighed by 44 pounds, managed to drop the future heavyweight champion in the second round before ultimately succumbing to a seventh-round knockout. Cunningham's final world title challenge came on April 16, 2016, when he faced the undefeated Krzysztof G?owacki for the WBO Cruiserweight title, losing unanimously after being knocked down four times.

Cunningham's professional journey ended on April 17, 2021, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. In his final bout, he secured a unanimous decision victory over MMA legend Frank Mir in a six-round contest. This victory was a fitting end to a career that saw Cunningham compile a professional record of 30 wins (13 by knockout), 9 losses, and 1 draw. Throughout his 21-year professional career, Cunningham's tenacity, skill, and sportsmanship earned him the respect of fans and fellow fighters, cementing his legacy as a two-time world champion and one of Philadelphia's finest boxing exports.