Connect with us

Articles

Steve Cunningham Stops XXL Natu Visinia on NBC Cable

Published

on

Steve Cunningham, fighting to get to a place where he can snag a heavy-duty payday, which will help defray medical costs for his daughter who seeks a heart transplant, moved a step closer Saturday night. He put the leather on Cali-based Natu Visinia, who outweighed him by 70 plus pounds, to the point that officials pulled the plug on the contest after round seven ended.

At the 2300 Arena in Philly, and on NBC cable, the 38-year-old Cunningham (seen above photo by David Spagnolo) hit the deck himself in round five but shrugged it off, and got back to showing off his skills and experience edge. A clubbing right, helped by a momentum shove, sent him to the mat, but he wasn’t seeing stars or anything.

The 30-year-old Visinia is a bit green, crude, Toughman-ish, but you wondered if his brute strength could grind USS down. Cunningham (now 28-6) switched righty to lefty, moved smartly, hit and scooted, went low and high, used the jab to keep a wise distance, and closed the distance, to blunt the big man, when that was called for…and he did what he needed to do—win.

USS went 210-443 on the hard to miss big lad, while the beefy loser, now 10-1, went 54-259. His stock, though, didn’t drop. This was valuable experience and he showed he can hang with a world-class fighter. No shame, no blame to be aimed at Natu.

And now.. hopefully that big opportunity presents itself soon for Cunningham, the ex Navy man.

I checked in with his promoter, Kathy Duva, and asked for her take on the bout. “Once again, Steve Cunningham delivered an electrifying performance, not just out-boxing, but also out-punching an incredibly game and durable opponent who outweighed Steve by 73 pounds,” she said. “At 6’3″ and 205 pounds, Steve is the same height and just one pound lighter than Muhammad Ali was nearly 50 years ago on the night he won his first world title against Sonny Liston. Unfortunately, in 2014, that makes Steve the smallest heavyweight in today’s top ten. He may be considered small in this modern age, but Steve is also the most exciting fighter in the heavyweight division today. He never fails to excite and, at heavyweight, it seems that this great former cruiserweight champion has found power that he did not posess at the 200 pound limit. ?Like Bernard Hopkins, another great fighter trained by Nazeem Richardson, Steve doesn’t get older. He just gets better. I can’t wait to see him fight again and will do everything in my power to bring him back as soon as Steve is ready.”

I don’t pretend I don’t root for the man and his family. Sorry….NOT SORRY.

Follow Woods on Twitter. https://twitter.com/Woodsy1069

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Rolly-Romero-Upsets-Ryan-Garcia-in-the-Finale-of-a-Times-Square-Tripleheader
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Rolly Romero Upsets Ryan Garcia in the Finale of a Times Square Tripleheader

Undercard-Results-and-Recaps-from-the-Inoue-Cardenas-Show-in-Las-Vegas
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Undercard Results and Recaps from the Inoue-Cardenas Show in Las Vegas

Canelo-Alvarez-Upends-Dancing-Machine-William-Scull-in-Saudi-Arabia
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Canelo Alvarez Upends Dancing Machine William Scull in Saudi Arabia

Bombs-Away-in-Las-Vegas-where-Inoue-and-Espinoza-Scored-Smashing-Triumphs
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Bombs Away in Las Vegas where Inoue and Espinoza Scored Smashing Triumphs

Arne's-Almanac-The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-(mostly)-Ugly-A-Weeend-Boxing-Recap-and-More
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Arne’s Almanac: The Good, the Bad, and the (Mostly) Ugly; a Weekend Boxing Recap and More

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles1 week ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Stephen-Breadman-Edwards-An-Unlikely-Boxing-Coach-with-a-Panoramic-View-of-the-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

“Breadman” Edwards: An Unlikely Boxing Coach with a Panoramic View of the Sport

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-Top-Rank-and-San-Diego-Smoke
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: Top Rank and San Diego Smoke

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles5 days ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles1 week ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles17 hours ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles2 days ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles4 days ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles5 days ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles1 week ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles1 week ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles1 week ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles1 week ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-Top-Rank-and-San-Diego-Smoke
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: Top Rank and San Diego Smoke

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending