Steve Cunningham to leave his belt in Germany?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Dec 2007, 13:39

With the Germans having lured him over to to face their big hope Marco Huck tonight, is there any way he can hope to leave with his IBF belt?

I don't think so. Can't see him knocking out Huck, and he'll have to pretty much out class him if he's to get it on points.

But Huck has looked very good lately, really confident and a very decent boxer. Plus he can punch too.

Normaly he'd have gone for a crack at the WBO title, but Frank got there first, and there's no way Enzo is going over there.

So Cunningham puts his IBF title on the line - he won in Poland, so maybe he has a slim chance, but he really looks up against it.

It's on ARD German TV tonight, at 9.10.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 29 Dec 2007, 13:45

Any idea who the judges are?
Depending on that then Cunningham stands a chance, Huck isn't a huge puncher, but he'll probably get the nod in any close rounds.

glahn · Post by **glahn** » 29 Dec 2007, 16:25

I think this will be an entertaining fight. I like Cunningham to win it with his greater experience, but it could be close.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Dec 2007, 16:58

Old bones Ian wrote:Any idea who the judges are?
Depending on that then Cunningham stands a chance, Huck isn't a huge puncher, but he'll probably get the nod in any close rounds.

Don't know who the judges are just yet, the usual suspects no doubt. I can't see Cunningham pulling this off, you've got to be a pretty special fighter to defend in Germany and leave with your belts.

And those canny German promoters usualy pick the right ones for their boys ( Joe Calzaghe aside )

Huck comes to the ring dressed as a pirate, as in Cap'n Hook. And if the scores are close, Steve can expect a jolly rogering.

states · Post by **states** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:03

A gift from the current scene: Live stream of Cunningham-Huck. Starts in about an hour, I think:

http://www.mdr.de/boxen-im-ersten/5071711.html

Or perhaps 10 minutes, taking into account C.E.T.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:05

Cunningham won the IBF title seven months ago with a decision over feared Pole Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in Poland. It was a majority but a majority in Poland speaks for itself and Cunningham had previously been robbed there against the same man (hence the rematch, a mandated one). Germany will seem like Disney World after that. And Wlodarczyk is a puncher like Huck.
So Cunningham knows all about the Lion's Den and the lion. A former national golden gloves champion, he holds wins over Johannesburg's Sebastiaan Rothmann (in South Africa, a man who had knocked off some of our best cruisers), Kelvin "Koncrete" Davis (dishing out a boxing lesson), Panama's Guillermo Jones (the division dangerman).... Cunningham has lost just once in 21 fights since turning pro in 2000: the disputed decision in Warsaw against Wlodarczyk.
Oh yes, the ex-aircraft refueller in the US Navy can fight.
Or should I say box. Cunningham is NO puncher but slick and fast and busy and superbly conditioned (and superbly built) - a hit and mover. His style should blend well with the big-hitting approach of Huck's.

glahn · Post by **glahn** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:07

bennie wrote:Cunningham won the IBF title seven months ago with a decision over feared Pole Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in Poland. It was a majority but a majority in Poland speaks for itself and Cunningham had previously been robbed there against the same man (hence the rematch, a mandated one). Germany will seem like Disney World after that. And Wlodarczyk is a puncher like Huck.
So Cunningham knows all about the Lion's Den and the lion. A former national golden gloves champion, he holds wins over Johannesburg's Sebastiaan Rothmann (in South Africa, a man who had knocked off some of our best cruisers), Kelvin "Koncrete" Davis (dishing out a boxing lesson), Panama's Guillermo Jones (the division dangerman).... Cunningham has lost just once in 21 fights since turning pro in 2000: the disputed decision in Warsaw against Wlodarczyk.
Oh yes, the ex-aircraft refueller in the US Navy can fight.
Or should I say box. Cunningham is NO puncher but slick and fast and busy and superbly conditioned (and superbly built) - a hit and mover. His style should blend well with the big-hitting approach of Huck's.

Good analysis, I agree with that.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:07

states wrote:A gift from the current scene: Live stream of Cunningham-Huck. Starts in about an hour, I think:

http://www.mdr.de/boxen-im-ersten/5071711.html

Or perhaps 10 minutes, taking into account C.E.T.

Yes 9.10 UK time, though the intros usualy go on for 1/2 hour or so.

Cunningham looks good at the weigh in -

http://www.mdr.de/boxen-im-ersten/5127368.html

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:08

I had been a Cunn fan but he was awful in the 1st fight with Wlod, so much so that I had the plodding Pole just about nicking it! Cunn looked better in the rematch, but not much.

Cunn did beat Rothmann and Guillermo Jones. Jones fight is considered a robbery and a few Sart Efricans had a fat, out of shape Rothmann winning via cleaner punching. Cunn has faced a lot of good cruisers, his best, most convincing win coming vs Kelvin Davis.

The last guy Cunningham stopped I believe was a guy that Sven Ottke badly beat up, Lloyd Bryan.

glahn · Post by **glahn** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:16

Nothing much happening on that stream page?

states · Post by **states** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:18

glahn wrote:Nothing much happening on that stream page?

Have you pressed the play icon below the picture of Huck?

states · Post by **states** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:30

Huck in the ring now, Cunningham on his way. Great stream, btw.

Deserter · Post by **Deserter** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:45

Like the look of Cunningham and while it's early days he looks the class fighter in there, but you only have to hear the crowd reaction when Huck throws wild leather to guess how the judges are going to score it - frequently missing the target but I fear that's going to be irrelevant.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:46

A wild but dangerous looking right hand Huck throws, and SC looks good with the uppercuts.

states · Post by **states** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:50

Yep, Cunningham has looked the classier fighter so far, but the crowd are going nuts whenever Huck throws a bomb. Good fourth round though, Huck could be warming up here.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:51

Cunningham putting in some nice work to the body - Huck is wilder and less precise but the crowd are screaming every time he gets near the target - could be influencing the judges..

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:54

Cunningham could dop with being a little more positive with his work - he allows Huck to bully him to the strands too often and it creates a bad impression.

Still Huck is giving him a good argument - glad I tuned in for this one!

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Dec 2007, 17:58

Huck's work fell off in the 5th - is he taking a breather or running out of gas?

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Dec 2007, 18:02

Cunningham is into a lovely groove in the sixth - Huck is just looking for the big right now, one of which he landed in the closing seconds.

Cunningham is winning the boxing match but can Huck catch him with the right?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Dec 2007, 18:02

Yeah good fight isn't it TT, SC is very classy, but these rounds are close, reckon Huck took the last one. SC has got his respect alright, which you don't often see with Huck.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Dec 2007, 18:07

Huck's workrate seems to have dropped off in the last couple of rounds and Cummingham is boxing beautifully. Its far from over though MW, as you say, Huck is having to give SC the respect he deserves.

Two very good operators in there.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Dec 2007, 18:10

Big round 8 for USS, really digging those body shots in, Hick looks dog tired. Reckon USS deserves to be ahead so far

states · Post by **states** » 29 Dec 2007, 18:14

Good fight this. Cunningham should be ahead, but it could all change in the championship rounds.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 29 Dec 2007, 18:14

Marcus Beyer looks like a cruiserweight ringside.

Judge Wally Snowball? And we're meant to take him seriously??

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 29 Dec 2007, 18:18

USS showing great fitness to maintain a cracking pace whilst Huck is working only in spurts now.

Huck closed out the 10th well but surely now Cunningham has boxed his way into a decent lead?