Jason Cunningham exclusive: Win and I get all my belts back – and add another
The tattoo etched across Jason Cunningham’s chest reads, ‘The Underdog Who Never Lost Hope.’
Cunningham is right. He has spent the majority of his career as the underdog, battling agains the odds for recognition and reward. He hasn’t done too badly though.
“I had a Masters title. That’s when you know you’ve really started at the bottom. I’ve had an Area title, two English and a British,” Cunningham told 32Red. And he wasn’t finished. “I’ve had Commonwealth titles at three weights – which I’m not sure if anybody else has done – the proper European EBU title, IBF International, the WBO International and I’ll be adding the WBC International this weekend. There’s some belts there.”
Despite that long list of accolades, Cunningham (32-7, 7 KO’s) is once again revelling in the role of the outsider. He enters this weekend’s massive British, Commonwealth and European title fight with unbeaten Liam Davies in his familiar role but couldn’t be more confident that the oddsmakers have it wrong. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.
“I know I’m going in there as the away fighter and he’s the champion so you’ve got to be aware of that but at the same time you can be nicking rounds and frustrating him. I’ve been around the block a few times now so I’ll be assessing what’s working and what’s not and if it comes to it we’ll find out how big a puncher he is because I’ll go to war with him,” he said.
“It’s exciting. It’s a good fight and a big domestic fight. I’m champing at the bit and I’m looking forward to seeing what this young contender’s got.
I’m prepared for anything
The way he’s talking, he’s this big puncher all of a sudden isn’t he? He’s gonna walk through me and smash me out in a round so he should do but we’re ticking every box and I’m prepared for whether he wants to box and have a chess match or whether he does want a beating. We’re prepared.”
Cunningham has seen pretty much everything the sport has to offer during his career. He has been the road warrior and the hometown favourite. He has been overlooked and taken for granted and he has won against the odds and had his dreams snatched from him. During the build-up to this fight he has been the target of Davies’ scorn. The champion from Donnington is brimming with confidence, certain that he will be too much for his experienced rival.
Cunningham hasn’t exactly been shy about voicing his own opinion and the backbiting and conflict has made those sapping runs and gruelling circuits that little bit easier.
“Let him come with that attitude. Sometimes that can take you out of your gameplan. I’ve shown over the years how durable I am so we’ll see how big a puncher he is. My efforts are on the job at hand and I’m prepared for anything,” Cunningham said matter of factly.
“It’s my 40th pro fight so I’ve been around a long time and it’s nothing new to me. The best thing about it is that he’s talking and trying to get a rise out of me but my head’s on the game. He’s failed to do that. We’ll see how he is during fight week too. That’s another thing. He can talk all he wants a long time out but when he’s down at the weight we’ll see if he’s got that same air of confidence.
The pressure is on him
“I’ve spoken to him before and he’s been quite respectful. I think when the cameras are on he likes to play up a bit, maybe it helps him sell tickets or maybe he’s trying to get a bite. I don’t know. He’s not been on this stage, it’s a big domestic fight with four belts on the line and it’s in his hometown. The pressure is on him. It could be nerves coming out.”
Until last July, Cunningham was enjoying the best run of form of his almost 12 year-long career. Taking scalps, collecting belts and battling his way into world title contention
The world class Zolani Tete ruthlessly ended his run. Tete then posted a positive drug test for steroids, casting a huge shadow over the victory and leaving Cunningham to pick up the pieces. The events surrounding the fight still leaving an unanswered question as to whether Cunningham could complete his collection of titles and claim that world title belt.
Cunningham had a break from the sport but got back into the groove with a solid ten round decision victory over Miguel Gonzalez in March. They were invaluable rounds, Cunningham not only proving to himself that there was something amiss during the four rounds he spent in the ring with Tete but establishing himself as the true challenger for Davies’ titles.
“It wasn’t proving anything to anybody else. I’d say it was to prove to myself. It was a test of character again after how the whole Tete thing went. It wasn’t good. To this day I don’t know whether it’s still an ongoing investigation or what. It was about coming back, becoming a champion again and getting my hand raised and getting myself back into a big fight,” he said.
We are the top two, everyone else is chasing
“I was happy to get the rounds in the bag. I would have liked to get him out of there later but he hung in there.
“Win on Saturday and I get all my belts back and add another one in the WBC.”
On Saturday night, the underdog will once again walk the ring first. He will stand in a dark ring whilst his opponent soaks up the admiration of his fans in the spotlight and he couldn’t be happier about it. The winner of this fight will cement themselves as Britain’s best at 122lbs.
“Queensbury have got a good bunch of us super bantamweights. These are the fights we should be involved in. I’ve never shied away and these are the fights people want to see.
“Davies has beaten everybody, I was flying up there with all the titles and then stepped up to Tete. Ionut Baluta beat Andrew Cain and Davies beat Baluta. At this moment in time, yeah, we are the top two aren’t we? Everybody else is chasing.”
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