Steve Cunningham

Steven Ormain "Steve" Cunningham (born July 15, 1976) is an American professional boxer. He is a two-time former IBF cruiserweight champion, having held the title from 2007 to 2008 and 2010 to 2011. His nickname, "USS", is a reference to his 1994–1998 US Navy service on the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise.

A native of Philadelphia, one of the most boxing-rich cities in America, Cunningham began adding to his hometown’s legacy in the sport after joining the US Navy. He 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 1994-98, serving on the aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise.

As an amateur, he won the National Golden Gloves 178 lb (81 kg) title in 1998.

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 defended the IBF title and fought for the vacant The Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Championship against Tomasz Adamek in Newark, New Jersey, on December 11, 2008. He lost a split decision (116–110, 115–112, 112–114), in a fight that was close in spite of the fact that 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, 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 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.

After being promoted by Kathy Duva and Main Events for several years, he is now advised by Al Haymon.Cunningham is trained by Naazim Richardson.

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.