Steve Cunningham: I'm Ready To Fight Tarver ASAP!
Jul 21, 2011 • 4:06 AM ET
By Mike Coppinger
Philadelphia-based cruiserweight Steve Cunningham – considered the best at his weight in the world – is looking for the big fight that has long eluded him.
In Antonio Tarver’s impressive debut on Wednesday in stopping Danny Green “Down Under” in nine rounds, he may have found one.
“I don’t know what’s on his plate but if he decides to stay at cruiserweight it would be an awesome fight,” Cunningham told BoxingScene.com. “It would be a great fight for me, it would be a great fight for American television, it would be a good fight for everybody.
“We’ve been getting a lot of buzz on Twitter and Facebook about this matchup and I’m excited, I’m really excited actually. I’m hungry, I’m starving. I’m ready to make it do what it do.”
Cunningham (24-2, 12 KOs), promoted by European-based promoter Sauerland Event has been fighting mostly in Europe, but American fans got a glimpse of the talented boxer-puncher when he waged war with Tomasz Adamek in December ’08, seen on Versus. Cunningham dropped a split decision to Adamek, a fight that could have gone either way.
“I don’t think the world has seen the best Steve Cunningham yet,” said the 35-year-old Cunningham. “The Adamek fight gave them a picture of my heart and little bit of skill. But I still believe that even with that heart I’ve gotten better, I have a new trainer in Nazim Richardson, we’ve been together for almost three years, and I feel I’m still learning and getting better. … “I think it would be a great fight, I’m willing to give my all.
“If he’s willing to do it ASAP, I’m ready. I’ve been in camp, I’ve been in training , I’m never out of the gym. … “I have the mandatory that’s coming up, so I would like to get a fight in before my mandatory, I’ve been trying to fight since June. If he’s willing to do the fight, then we can get in there ASAP. Hey, let’s go.”
Mike Coppinger is a regular boxing freelancer for USA TODAY and Ring Magazine. He’s a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, the Ring Ratings Advisory Panel and the Yahoo! Sports Boxing Panel. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger.
