 |
‘Rematch
us in a Different Country’
|
No
way in Wlodarczyk’s Poland,
says American Steve
Philadelphia cruiserweight,
Steve “USS” Cunningham says Poland
should be removed from consideration for his
rematch against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, ordered
by theIBF.
“Choose a country with
a proven track record of staging fair contests,”
Cunningham said.
The meeting of Cunningham,
from America, and Wlodarczyk, from Poland,
for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title in
Warsaw on November 25 was the first world
championship ever staged in Poland. The event
was mired in controversy.
“I thought Poland and
most of the people I met in Warsaw were great,”
Cunningham said, “but I don’t
think they’re capable of staging a fair
fight when their own boxer is in the ring.”
Polish and German judges ruled
in favor of Wlodarczyk (115-113 and 116-112),
while the American judge saw a near-shutout
for the Philadelphian, Cunningham, 119-109.
In the week leading up to the
fight, Cunningham’s representatives
requested but were never supplied a copy of
the rules and regulations from the Polish
boxing commission. Disagreements raged over
ring size, gloves to be used, and a last-minute
judge change, Richie Giachetti, Cunningham’s
manager-trainer, said:
“The Polish commission told us four
days before the fight they were replacing
an Italian judge with a Polish judge regardless
of the fact he had never scored a world championship
fight.
“They told me there would
be no fight if the Polish judge wasn’t
allowed to score.
“The IBF should step up
and do the right thing. Steve will be happy
to meet Wlodarczyk anywhere but in his home
country.”
Cunningham’s promoter,
Don King, and Wlodarczyk’s representativess,
were unable to come to terms for the rematch,
so the IBF has ordered a purse bid scheduled
for March 6.
King represents many Polish
fighters including heavyweight Andrew Golota
and former light- heavyweight champion, Tomasz
Adamek. The Don was quick to point out that
Cunningham and Wlodarczyk did their jobs inside
the ring.
His concern is to see the rematch
take place in a seasoned boxing jurisdiction
with proven adherence to the accepted rules
of the sport.
“The IBF owes it to these
fighters to ensure the rematch is held in
a location known for providing a level playing
field for boxers.”
