BoxRec

TYSON FURY LANDS DREAM US DEBUT
Fury vs. Cunningham
Madison Square Garden
Saturday 20th April
Live on NBC

Explosive 6’9” heavyweight contender and former unbeaten Irish, Commonwealth and British Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury, 20-0, 14 KO’s, will make his New York debut on Saturday afternoon, April 20th when he takes on former cruiserweight World Champion Steve USS Cunningham, 25-5, 12 KO’s, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

This fight is an official IBF Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #2 position between #9, Tyson Fury and #12, Steve Cunningham. The winner will become #2 and must meet #1 or the leading available contender to establish the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko. The fight will be broadcast at 4PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC Sports Fight Night.

"Cunningham's got all the tools; a former World Champion, good fighter, he's got a lot of skill. I'm looking to put on a devastating performance; the best of my career to date.” said Fury. "I'm absolutely ecstatic to be fighting at Madison Square Garden; it goes back in history and I can't wait to put my name with a long list of Champions who have fought there - I'm a historian of boxing myself so this is definitely the pinnacle of my career so far.”

Mick Hennessy, Hennessy Sports CEO, said, "I'm very proud to say that Tyson Fury's American debut is taking place at Madison Square Garden, New York, this is a dream debut in the US for Tyson as this fight is also being shown live on network TV (NBC). It just doesn't get any better than this.

Cunningham is ecstatic, “I'm looking forward to getting back in the ring on April 20th to face Fury. For the first time in my career I have a guy coming to my country to face me. I am certain he’s never faced a fighter like me.” He added, “What an amazing opportunity to fight in historic Madison Square Garden and return to NBC again. I am prepared to fight a great fight and come out with a victory.”

Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO, “Giving Steve the opportunity to fight on NBC again - in a bigger venue for another shot at the #2 position in the IBF - after his controversial decision loss to Tomasz Adamek in December is what Main Events and Fight Night are all about.’ Duva added, “Steve put on a fantastic performance against Adamek and deserves to be rewarded with this fight. We also get to introduce Tyson Fury, a young heavyweight contender, to the American public in a true crossroads match.”

Tickets to the bout, starting at $25, will go on sale next week. Details to follow. The fight is promoted by Hennessy Sports and Main Events.

Excellent match making , Cunningham is a known name over there and comes to win. I think he beat Adamek in his last fight, size might be the key here and as long as Fury boxes to orders he should win, but it won't be easy

Excellent work by Hennessy getting this fight made. And an IBF eliminator too, not sure what the difference is between a voluntary eliminator and just a plain ordinary eliminator, there will be more types of eliminator than titles soon.

why boxrec give this 4* but price thompson 5*.

according to boxrec fury is ranked higher than all of these on points.
they should chnage

either way, i see tyson to strong for USS. too much difference in weight and size.
likley TKO/KO/UD tyson fury

Saturday afternoon, so a late morning, 11am? fight on C5?

Fight David Price or STFU

Channel 5?

dammage7 wrote:why boxrec give this 4* but price thompson 5*.

according to boxrec fury is ranked higher than all of these on points.
they should chnage

either way, i see tyson to strong for USS. too much difference in weight and size.
likley TKO/KO/UD tyson fury

I agree, they both should be the same !
3*

Chambers2 wrote:Fight David Price or STFU

presumably you're messaging Frank Maloney saying 'fight Fury or STFU' as well?

HS Press wrote:
This fight is an official IBF Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #2 position between #9, Tyson Fury and #12, Steve Cunningham. The winner will become #2 and must meet #1 or the leading available contender to establish the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko.

Interesting fight.

I still can't get my head around how it works though.

The boxer ranked number 9 fights a boxer ranked number 12, and the winner suddenly becomes ranked number 2 ? (surely you would have to beat the current number 2 to take their place ?).

It's a point that has been made before on recent threads about Fury fighting in the US, but, there have to doubts as to whether his uncle will get a visa and be able to work the corner. I've been really impressed with Peter's influence on Fury (in the ring). It wouldn't be ideal to have to go into the fight without him.

bripez wrote:

HS Press wrote:
This fight is an official IBF Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #2 position between #9, Tyson Fury and #12, Steve Cunningham. The winner will become #2 and must meet #1 or the leading available contender to establish the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko.

Interesting fight.

I still can't get my head around how it works though.

The boxer ranked number 9 fights a boxer ranked number 12, and the winner suddenly becomes ranked number 2 ? (surely you would have to beat the current number 2 to take their place ?).

The IBF usually have numbers 1 and 2 vacant and have eliminators and final eliminators to decide their number 1 and 2 guys. I'd guess Cunningham and Fury were the first 2 guys down the rankings willing to take the fight for the IBF number 2 spot.

It will be another bore fest like his fight with Kevin Johnson,i love how all the loudmouth heavyweights bang on about Klitschkos being safety first altough they stop 95% of all opposition then when they(Fury) do it themselves thats OK :x Haye was the same,moaning about the Klits being boring then doing the exact same against Valuev.i dont mind boxers being safety first but its not me who slates it

Its not the Klitschkos fault that theres no other legitimate challengers that are bigger than them,Valuev would do VERY well to hear the final bell against Vitali or Wladamir,Nicolai Valuev was very fortunate to get the decision against a 45 year old Evander Holyfield and as i said i personally dont mind fighters being cautious,fair enough it makes for a less entertaining fight but i appreciate a boxer needing to do what necessary to win.nobody makes the likes of David Haye,Tyson Fury criticise that tactic but they do,then adopt the same approach themselves when it suits them

Yeah i can hear what your saying its just that if Haye was gonna be a bona fide Heavyweight like he was claiming at the time surely he would more often than not be fighting bigger n taller fighters so would that be acceptable for Haye to fight like that everytime he came against a naturally bigger opponent

On NBC in the states too, great mainstream exposure for Tyson. If he does a good job and comes across well (in his kind of way) he could do well out of this.

Mick Hennessey, still trying new things (whether forced to or not) and making decent fights. Respect.

jameswilson wrote:Excellent work by Hennessy getting this fight made. And an IBF eliminator too, not sure what the difference is between a voluntary eliminator and just a plain ordinary eliminator, there will be more types of eliminator than titles soon.

I think it has something to do with the fact that Adamek vs. Cunningham was for the IBF "2 spot (which Adamek won). Previously Pulev beat Ustinov for the IBF "1 spot, therefore Adamek vs. Pulev was suppose to happen, with the winner getting a shot at Wladamir. However, Adamek refused to fight Pulev, and Im presuming the IBF is not just going to grant Pulev the title shot without fully earning it. Therefore they have created ANOTHER "2 spot fight, giving Cunningham another chance (probably because it was somewhat controversial) against Fury, with the winner going on to face Pulev, with the winner of that FINALLY getting the title shot.

I presume the voluntary has been thrown in there because of something to do with the 1st IBF "2 eliminator fight backfiring as the winner (Adamek) did not fulfill his duty, therefore they have to do it again, but maybe for some reason it will only be official if it is voluntary.

To be honest its a load of bull shit. The politics of boxing is extremely complex, or just flat out makes no sense, a lot like the politics of well politics!

The Dark Destroyer wrote:

Wales wrote:Saturday afternoon, so a late morning, 11am? fight on C5?

We're ahead, so about 9pm here, not bad for a US fight.

Of course, what a whopper. Makes a change for a fight staged in america, but timed to accomodate uk tv audience.

If Cunningham is interested this is where Fury gets beat. The Yanks will love it.

Counter-puncher wrote:

Chambers2 wrote:Fight David Price or STFU

presumably you're messaging Frank Maloney saying 'fight Fury or STFU' as well?

It went to purse bids and Fury/Hennessy pulled out of them, from what I've seen and read Frank and Price want the fight. IMO Fury/Mick know that Price is a few levels above him (as do I)

Chambers2 wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:

Chambers2 wrote:Fight David Price or STFU

presumably you're messaging Frank Maloney saying 'fight Fury or STFU' as well?

It went to purse bids and Fury/Hennessy pulled out of them, from what I've seen and read Frank and Price want the fight. IMO Fury/Mick know that Price is a few levels above him (as do I)

You're correct in your thinking. They've pulled out twice.

Though, Price says himself Fury isn't scared of fighting him and accepts he's going a different route.

IMO, if both Fury and Price win, they have to fight. Make it an eliminator for a fight against a Klit and the tickets will fly out. Can't afford to let the fight hype die out by one of them getting sparked.

Chambers2 wrote:Fight David Price or STFU

It is half term I see.

jBacca wrote:

Chambers2 wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:presumably you're messaging Frank Maloney saying 'fight Fury or STFU' as well?

It went to purse bids and Fury/Hennessy pulled out of them, from what I've seen and read Frank and Price want the fight. IMO Fury/Mick know that Price is a few levels above him (as do I)

You're correct in your thinking. They've pulled out twice.

Though, Price says himself Fury isn't scared of fighting him and accepts he's going a different route.

IMO, if both Fury and Price win, they have to fight. Make it an eliminator for a fight against a Klit and the tickets will fly out. Can't afford to let the fight hype die out by one of them getting sparked.

Yeah I know you're right

It just frustrates the shit out of me that both fighters want to fight the other in what's probably the most wanted fight in the UK at the mo, but we're not going to see it, because Fury is happy to say 'Fcuk the fans' I'm going to fight a succession of uncompetitive US fighters.............. whilst calling Price every name under the Sun

Fury will get beat long before the Price fight happens IMO and Fury-Price will join the list of other missed BIG fights for the UK fans ala Calzaghe-Froch, Hatton-Witter.......

Boxing doesn't do itself any favours

I just checked lastest rankings I could find... Totally absurd...

WBC

Fury 4th
Price 5th

IBF

Price 8th
Fury 9th

Thought these were both reasonable...

Checked WBA - neither man ranked...realised I was looking at the wrong division or an old list or I was back on the West Bromwich Albion website...

Then I saw ranked 13th Richard Towers...

Now I'm pleased for Towers but I'd bet even he'd say that absed on wins Fury and Price should be rated above him.

HS Press wrote:TYSON FURY LANDS DREAM US DEBUT
Fury vs. Cunningham
Madison Square Garden
Saturday 20th April
Live on NBC

Explosive 6’9” heavyweight contender and former unbeaten Irish, Commonwealth and British Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury, 20-0, 14 KO’s, will make his New York debut on Saturday afternoon, April 20th when he takes on former cruiserweight World Champion Steve USS Cunningham, 25-5, 12 KO’s, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

This fight is an official IBF Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #2 position between #9, Tyson Fury and #12, Steve Cunningham. The winner will become #2 and must meet #1 or the leading available contender to establish the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko. The fight will be broadcast at 4PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC Sports Fight Night.

"Cunningham's got all the tools; a former World Champion, good fighter, he's got a lot of skill. I'm looking to put on a devastating performance; the best of my career to date.” said Fury. "I'm absolutely ecstatic to be fighting at Madison Square Garden; it goes back in history and I can't wait to put my name with a long list of Champions who have fought there - I'm a historian of boxing myself so this is definitely the pinnacle of my career so far.”

Mick Hennessy, Hennessy Sports CEO, said, "I'm very proud to say that Tyson Fury's American debut is taking place at Madison Square Garden, New York, this is a dream debut in the US for Tyson as this fight is also being shown live on network TV (NBC). It just doesn't get any better than this.

Cunningham is ecstatic, “I'm looking forward to getting back in the ring on April 20th to face Fury. For the first time in my career I have a guy coming to my country to face me. I am certain he’s never faced a fighter like me.” He added, “What an amazing opportunity to fight in historic Madison Square Garden and return to NBC again. I am prepared to fight a great fight and come out with a victory.”

Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO, “Giving Steve the opportunity to fight on NBC again - in a bigger venue for another shot at the #2 position in the IBF - after his controversial decision loss to Tomasz Adamek in December is what Main Events and Fight Night are all about.’ Duva added, “Steve put on a fantastic performance against Adamek and deserves to be rewarded with this fight. We also get to introduce Tyson Fury, a young heavyweight contender, to the American public in a true crossroads match.”

Tickets to the bout, starting at $25, will go on sale next week. Details to follow. The fight is promoted by Hennessy Sports and Main Events.

HS Press might as well be spam. He all knew abouth the fight already. They answer none of our questions