NEWS ON: Cunningham-Mansour, Stevens, Guerrero, Caballero

Cunningham-Mansour Scouting Report:

Can experience defeat power?

Philadelphia, PA: Steve “USS” Cunningham (26-6-0, 12 KOs) has been boxing professionally for almost 14 years and has 32 professional fights under his belt, his opponent USBA Heavyweight Champion Amir “Hardcore” Mansour (20-0-0, 15 KOs) has much less professional experience but honed his boxing skills while serving time in a federal corrections facility and has “Hardcore” knockout power. When these two hometown warriors collide at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA on Friday, April 4 on NBCSN Fight Night the question on everyone’s mind will be whether or not Cunningham’s experience can overcome Mansour’s power? The scouting report for this heavyweight match-up is below:

USS Cunningham

Photo Credits:

Rich Graessle/Main Events

Steve “USS” Cunningham

Category

Age : 37

Record : 26-6-0, 12 KOs

Strength : Cunningham is a crafty former world cruiserweight champion with more experience than his older opponent. He is taller with longer reach too.

Weakness : Steve is not known as a knock out puncher. He sometimes tires in final rounds of 12-round bouts.

Experience : Cunningham as the two-time cruiserweight world champion clearly has the edge here.

Power : Although Steve is not generally known for his power, at heavyweight, he knocked down Tyson Fury. He said, “People know me as a superb boxer. I can get gritty and grimy with him; if need to be I will.”

Speed : Steve is the smaller fighter so with that speed comes. He is the better boxer and has faster hands.

Endurance : Cunningham has gone 12 rounds nine times in his career.

Accuracy : Steve is a boxer that will mix it up when he wants to. He does not waste many punches.

Defense : Steve is a boxer so he is more likely to slip more punches.

Chin : Cunningham was only stopped once in his career by Tyson Fury, who did it with an illegal punch.

Style : Steve is a boxer/puncher.

Crowd Support : 50/50 – Steve is a Philadelphia native fighting in front of his home crowd.

Amir “Hardcore” Mansour

Category

Age : 41

Record : 20-0-0, 15 KOs

Strength : Mansour is a big, big puncher. The southpaw outweighs Cunningham by approximately 25 pounds.

Weakness : Amir lacks experience in big fights. Also he tends to brawl. While he outweighs Cunningham, he is the shorter man of the two men at 6’1″

Experience : Mansour has scored most of his wins via early KO. He is taking a big step up with this bout against a former world champion – this will be the biggest fight of his career.

Power : The power edge goes to Mansour, who has a 75% (15 of 20) knockout-to-win ratio. Mansour said, “They don’t call me Hardcore for nothing. April 4^th I got to do what I got to do. This is my time to shine. I am prepared for war. We are going to get it on.”

Speed : Mansour does not have much speed, but can double that jab and Steve may not see that left coming from the bigger southpaw.

Endurance : The edge here has to go to Cunningham because Mansour has only gone 12 rounds once in his career.

Accuracy : Mansour’s accuracy is his one punch knockout power, if he connects, his opponent is going down.

Defense : Mansour’s only defense is his power.

Chin : Mansour has never been down in his career so his chin is still in question.punch.

Style : Mansour is a southpaw/big puncher.

Crowd Support : 50/50 – Amir is Philadelphia trained and a Delaware native so Philadelphia is his adoptive home crowd. However, Brother Naazim Richardson, Cunningham’s trainer said, “Fighting here in Philly is an advantage for Mansour. His supporters are based in Philly. He’s got Philly history behind him.”

The Match-Up

This is an interesting match-up because Cunningham is an experienced boxer and Mansour has less experience but he is a really big puncher.

About this match-up Cunningham said, “This time I am going to step it up a lot. I am supposed to be here. If I can stop him I will. Opposition brings out the best in me. With Quezada they said I broke his rib. It is a skill level thing. Mansour is hungry, driven, has got a good team and that will bring out the best in him. But this will be the best Steve Cunningham the world has ever seen.” Mansour does not seem to be intimidated by Cunningham’s experience. He said, “I know that I can make the adjustments that I need to make. There is a whole bag of tricks that I have up my sleeve.”

Hardcore Mansour

Photo Credits: Mike Gladysz/Main Events

Hall of Fame matchmaker and Philadelphia boxing legend J Russell Peltz said, “It’s the best all-Philly fight in years. Two careers are on the line in this one. The winner becomes a player in the heavyweight sweepstakes. Cunningham has to prove he’s still viable as a heavyweight and Mansour must prove he can hang with the big boys.”

Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva said, “This is a real 50-50 fight. Neither fighter has a clear advantage. I can’t wait to find out who wins!”

Showtime is Rested and Ready to Take on Johnson

Stevens in the Ring Against Majewski

Photo Credits:

Rich Graessle/Main Events

Philadelphia, PA: Curtis “Showtime” Stevens took a relaxing vacation after his first round knockout of Patrick “The Machine” Majewski on January 24 at Resorts in Atlantic City, NJ and now he is faster, stronger, rested and ready to take on Tureano Johnson Friday, April 4 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA. Stevens, who vowed to stay busy this year, spent two weeks in Mexico and Jamaica following his fight at Resorts. However, even while he was having fun in the sun, he stayed in constant contact with Main Events’ Matchmaker Jolene Mizzone, “While I was away Jolene kept in contact with me. She asked me if I wanted to fight and I told her I was off for two years so now I want to get right back into it. I wasn’t playing around.”

Stevens Against Findley

Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

Stevens, 29, just moved to a new place on the water in Queens and has been running stairs and on the beach as part of his new conditioning regime. He said, “I feel good. I have been training very hard. We wanted to make my legs stronger so I can get lower and weave his shots.” However, Curtis does not think Tureano Johnson is going to be a problem for him. When asked about Johnson he said, “This guy likes to fight. He slaps a lot. He’s got looping shots. But don’t leave your seat when the TV lights come on because you might miss it. Don’t blink. Have your popcorn and your soda ready beforehand because I am about to put on a spectacular showcase come April 4.”

Showtime vs. Ayala

Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

When asked about fighting in Philadelphia, the Brooklyn native said, “Philly is the boxing capital so I am really excited to be fighting there. They like to fight in Philly and I love that. I have a lot of fans in Philly. I grew up with Karl ‘Dynamite’ Dargan, we were in the amateurs together, so I know all of his family. A lot of my fans from New York and Brooklyn are going to come out there and make the drive to show their support but I have fans in Philly too.”

This will be Showtime’s fifth Fight Night appearance and he is undefeated on the program (first round KO of Patrick Majewski on Jan. 24, first round KO of Saul Roman on August 3, 2013, eighth round UD over Derrick Findley on April 20, 2013 and first round KO of Elvin Ayala on January 19, 2013). When asked about fighting on Fight Night, Stevens replied, “I love NBC Sports. I love NBC because the world gets to see me. I am grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to perform for the whole world. Me and Cunningham were on Fight Night together when he fought Tyson Fury and I beat Derrick Findley so I am glad we get to share the spotlight again on Fight Night April 4.”

Curtis Knocks Out Roman

Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva said, “I love Curtis’ attitude. There are few things better for a promoter than a fighter who will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. Curtis has the heart of a champion, even if he doesn’t have that belt just yet.”

Jolene Mizzone, Main Events’ matchmaker said, “Fighting an up-and-coming undefeated opponent is always dangerous for a fighter so Curtis needs to be on point in order for him to get closer to a world title fight.”

About April 4th:

The event features a ten-round bout for the USBA Heavyweight Title between Steve “USS” Cunningham and USBA champion Amir “Hardcore” Mansour live on NBCSN Fight Night from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Fight Night broadcast will begin at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT. The card is presented by Main Events and Peltz Boxing in association with BAM Boxing and Joe Hand Promotions. The undercard will include a ten round middleweight match-up between Curtis “Showtime” Stevens and Tureano Johnson. The remaining undercard fights will be announced shortly. Tickets are on sale now at www.comcastTix.com and the Liacouras Center Box Office.

GILROY, CALIFORNIA (March 31, 2014) – This Sunday April 6, 2014, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will host a fundraiser titled “Breath for Caley” and event to help raise money for Caley Camarillo a 12-year old girl who is suffering from a rare and terminal lung disease called cystic fibrosis (commonly referred to as CF).

The event will take place at the Morgan Hill Cellars, located at 1645 San Pedro Ave in Morgan Hill CA from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Tickets priced $25 per person can be purchased here. There will be a Raffle, Silent Auction of Sports Memorabilia & More. Appetizers and Live Entertainment by Isaiah Picket to be expected.

Please help us help Caley and her family by donating whatever you can to help with everyday expenses and surmounting medical expenses. Hopefully we can raise enough to get her looked at by another team of Doctors. See more by clicking HERE.

For more information or tickets: Contact: Maria Cid 408.500.9426 or MsAlxis 408.508.4733

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KOBE, JAPAN (March 31, 2014) – Unbeaten as a professional and one of the most respected young fighters in boxing today, Coachella, California’s Randy “El Matador” Caballero will get his chance to move one step closer to a world championship when he travels to Kobe, Japan to fight Kohei Oba at Sambo Hall in a 12-round locally televised IBF Bantamweight Title Elimination bout on Friday, April 4.

“This is the fight I’ve been waiting for, and after beating Oba, I’ll get my title shot,” said Caballero. “I’m not concerned about the travel time it took for me to get to Japan or any scoring issues; I’m trained to dominate, and I won’t leave any doubts this Friday, April 4.”

Just 23-years-old, Randy “El Matador” Caballero (20-0, 12 KOs) has the maturity of a seasoned veteran in the ring, and an impressive skill set, which is why its no surprise that he’s one win away from a world title shot. A California fan favorite, the number four-ranked contender has added power to his game in recent months, winning his last four bouts by knockout. This Friday, April 4, he fights for the first time outside of the United States when he faces the veteran Oba.

Ranked fifth in the world by the IBF, Japanese bantamweight champion Kohei Oba (35-2-1, 14 KOs) wants to add more hardware to his trophy case, but he’ll have to get past Caballero to do so. A professional since 2002, the 29-year-old has made a steady climb to the top, and with a 9-0 record in Japanese title fights, he has the skills and experience to take Caballero to places the American has never seen in the ring before.