IBF Cruiserweight Champion Steve “USS” Cunningham (24-2, 12 KOs) will
put his belt on the line against Yoan Pablo Hernandez (24-1, 13 KOs) in
Neubrandenburg, Germany on October 1. Boxing-online.com has caught up
with the 35-year-old American ahead of his third fight for Team Sauerland.
Q: How has the preparation been going?
USS: “Everything has been going great, I’m feeling good and looking
forward to the fight. I’m always in the gym, even without a fight
scheduled, and I always have the top cruiserweights on my radar.”
Q: Hernandez is a tough fighter. He is also a southpaw. Have you already
fought other southpaws? Have you had a special preparation for this fight?
USS: “Yes, I have fought other southpaws in my career, and I used to
spar with Chris Byrd as an amateur and pro. I have no problems with
fighting southpaws.”
Q: You have already beaten all four reigning world champions. Looks like
Hernandez is one of the biggest names out there that you have yet to beat?
USS: “I believe him to be the best challenger for me right now. I think
he is a good fighter and will bring a good fight. I want to put on a
great fight for the German fans and would love for it to be the fight of
the year.”
Q: You defeated mandatory challenger Enad Licina in your last fight in
April. But you said you were not entirely happy with your performance?
USS: “Our initial fight date was changed and we travelled back to
America for a short period to resume camp. When I returned to Germany
the week before the fight, I had caught the flu. I spent the first
three days in bed and was not feeling well at all. I was determined and
even though I knew I wasn’t 100%, I felt confident that my best at that
time would be enough. And thank God it was. I felt drained during the
fight, I really could not push the way I wanted to and trained to. But
prayer, faith and hard work brought me through.”
Q: Your clash with Hernandez will also be a clash of two top trainers –
Naazim Richardson and Ulli Wegner…
USS: “They are both great trainers. I know 100% that brother Naazim
Richardson is the best trainer for me. He works equally as hard as I do
in preparing for a fight and I trust him in the ring to tell me what
needs to be done. Wegner is a great trainer too, his work speaks for
itself. Two great trainers, two great fighters, it’s going to be a
GREAT fight.”
