"We did everything in our power to make sure everything is cool with the judges. My lawyer worked out that we want neutral judges and a neutral ref. The one judge had me winning one or two rounds. That's absurd, so we got our neutral judges and referee to make sure we're on an even playing field. We're not only going over there to beat this guy, we're going to destroy him...Now I get another chance to show this dude can't beat me. The determination is through the roof. Like I said, I get angry thinking about it, but I'm gonna be smart in the there. I'm a very smart fighter and have proven that, but I don't wanna just take the title. I want to rip it back. I wanna run in his house, snatch the belt off his waist, and walk out with him on the floor," stated two-time cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham, who talked about his upcoming February 4 rematch with Yoan Pablo Hernandez. Check it out!
DK: Steve, how's training coming along my man?
SC: Going according to schedule. Actually, a little over schedule. I've been ready to fight since October 2nd [the day after the first meeting between Cunningham and Hernandez]. My main thing this camp is resting. With the anger of what happened and then the excitement of getting a rematch, the morning I got the news they ordered the rematch, I went running and we were on vacation in the mountains at a resort in Virginia. I tore up that mountain that day (laughing). My big thing is showing me how to rest because I'll mess around and hurt myself. That's how bad I want this rematch.
DK: (Laughing) Yeah, I know you wanted this rematch since the decision that happened the last time against Hernandez.
SC: Yup. Yeah.
DK: Are you fearful of having to go back to Germany to fight?
SC: I mean, I'm a Christian man and believe everything happens for a reason. I got my faith in the Lord and a lot of people go overseas and get robbed, but they don't get the rematch, and it's happened to me twice. Going back over here for the rematch, the Lord won't leave me stranded. If we win, that's great, but if we lose, there's a reason that path was chosen and I truly believe that. With that said now, we ask He bless us with a victory, but like I said, it's a bigger plan than winning belts and making money. But also, it's a bigger plan when I do win because they let me go speak at schools and help kids, and the kids see the world champ come in and I can make an impact on their lives. We did everything in our power to make sure everything is cool with the judges. My lawyer worked out that we want neutral judges and a neutral ref. The one judge had me winning one or two rounds. That's absurd, so we got our neutral judges and referee to make sure we're on an even playing field. We're not only going over there to beat this guy, we're going to destroy him.
DK: Absolutely. We all know how difficult it is to win a decision overseas, especially in Germany. I think its safe to say how determined you are going into this fight.
SC: It's one of them things where somebody you let in your house stole jewelery, and you know where they live, and you know what they got, and you want to go get it back. We all know what the doctor did was shady and underhanded, so filing a protest and getting a rematch, people seen what happened. They know what happened and awarded me the rematch. Now I get another chance to show this dude can't beat me. The determination is through the roof. Like I said, I get angry thinking about it, but I'm gonna be smart in the there. I'm a very smart fighter and have proven that, but I don't wanna just take the title. I want to rip it back. I wanna run in his house, snatch the belt off his waist, and walk out with him on the floor.
DK: Is anything changing in your preparation for Hernandez or is it staying the same?
SC: Um, intensity. Now I've got this thing of relentlessness. Basically, a few things changed, but we knew we could beat him in the beginning. Even after the devastating knockdown, I came back up and dominated. I took his best shot and he couldn't do anything with it. These guys have been protected and pampered, and when they get in deep water, he was breaking down. We wanna take him there again and finish the job without any outside entity. We got the same promoter, but for me, I've been fighting overseas because I had to. I would love to be one of those fighters with people behind them and advisers and managers with large backing, but I'm not, so I have to go to the lion's den. That should show the world this dude is something different, going places other fighters won't even consider.
DK: You mentioned the knockdown. In the beginning of the fight, he knocked you down and had you dazed, but after round 2, you were dominating. What do you think of Hernandez as a fighter?
SC: Um, I think he's a decent fighter. I think he could be champion, but I don't think he's in my league. Not to sound dick-headed or anything, but we showed that the first fight. I went wide, he went straight, and he cracked me. Now from there, a lot of fighters, that would've been it. I can't explain it, but there's just something in me, and it's nothing I can explain. It's not training or anything like that, but I've got that determination and heart to keep going because I can't afford to lose. He's a good fighter, but I don't think he's the top cruiserweight. He shouldn't be the Boxrec #1 guy. He shouldn't be the IBF champion.
DK: So what can we expect to see from Steve Cunningham come February 4th?
SC: Three-time cruserweight world champion. Expect the same as you normally do. Everything that happened that last fight wasn't in my power. You're gonna see the same with a little more determination and intensity, if that's even possible.
DK: After you take care of business against Hernandez, what do you want to do next?
SC: There's a few options. You know, the heavyweight scene lingers. I've been sparring with heavyweights, sparring with Wladimir, which was a very good three weeks of sparring with him. He's the best heavyweight in the world, and the biggest, and I was able to gauge my ability. I feel a move to heavyweight is possible, but I don't like looking forward because there is no day after February 4th right now. But there is a plan. I would love to be Ring world champion and maybe lure Tarver into a fight. I would love that fight. And maybe then avenging my other loss by moving to heavyweight and fighting Adamek. Then if all goes well, you know, seeing what else I could do maybe at heavyweight. But all my focus right now is on February 4th because there is no tomorrow for me after that.
DK: Alright Steve, I won't keep you any longer. Good luck on the 4th and let's talk again after you bring that title back to Philly.
SC: Alright man, thanks.
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