Talk about it on the forum
http://phillykeith.com/fightforum/index.php?topic=1105.0
“Champ again in 2010″ will have to wait a bit longer to come to life for Team Cunningham as this fight scheduled for March 26 was scrapped at the last minute due to a dispute between promoter Don King and ESPN. His Hairness says ESPN wanted rights and options for rematches or the winners next fight. The network says King tried to change the terms of ESPN standard agreements involving money, sponsorship and more. Typical he said – she said BS and the fans are out of a card that was supposed to broadcast two world title fights…
Talk about it on the forum http://phillykeith.com/fightforum/index.php?topic=1105.0
“Champ again in 2010″ is the new year motto of Team Cunningham. They get a chance to fulfill this quest in front of a live national audience as ESPN will air the IBF Cruiserweight title fight between Steve “USS’ Cunningham (22-2, 1ko’s) and Matt Godfrey (20-1, 10ko’s). This Friday Night Fights main event bout will take place at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise Florida on March 26th.
A title fight has been a long time coming for Team Cunningham as they were dipped, dodged and flat out avoided by former champ Tomasz Adamek, who relinquished the belt rather than grant a rematch of their tight encounter from December 2008.
Since that fight USS has only boxed once – a 12 round unanimous decision win over sturdy veteran Wayne Braithwaite in Florida. Perseverance has prevailed and Cunningham is now in the drivers seat with an opportunity to be champion with recognition as the top Cruiserweight in the world.
Godfrey has been groomed to be a champ since the beginning. He was a top amateur and then moved carefully through the ranks since turning pro in 2004. There have been a few speed bumps along the way but he was able to stay in position to land a fight of this magnitude. You may be familiar with Godfrey as he fought in this town last year winning a 12 round snooze against Shawn Hawk.
It will be interesting to see how this fight plays out in the ring as both are more traditional boxers instead of action initiating sluggers. If anything – Cunningham has more experience in the pro ranks against the higher echelon of competition. Word around the ring is that he has been training in Big Bear California with Nazeem Richardson to prepare for this fight. Good luck to Team USS – More on this fight to come soon!
Congrats go out to 17 year old top Philly amateur Miguel Cartagena of the Philly Rumblers Boxing Club who gave a good showing at the AIBA World Championship tournament in Italy this past weekend. Miguel won his first fight against an opponent was from Japan by a score 23 – 9. Fight two turned out to be against a 2008 Olympian from Spain and while Cartegena gave it a run, he suffered a broken thumb early and lost a decision. He finished 4th overall in the 108 lb (28 kilo) bracket.
Up next for the Philly Rumbler from North Philly is a dual in Virginia and after that the P.A.L. Triple Crowd.
Stay tuned for more info
