"We are looking at it. Got a mandatory to take care of and we will see how it works out. If it is, I am with it. I feel the need to fight, want to fight, got to fight...they are working on it. I don't have anything to put out yet. I haven't signed anything. As long as everything looks good, I'm there; which I believe it will. Shoot, wait till everyone else signs on, then it's party time...Even with the tournament, it still ain't no American television. The American media don't give a damn about Cruiserweights. The fans, I get a lot of feedback for the division. They want to see us, the division, but we don't get a chance to showcase our skills and I don't understand that," stated cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham as he talked about his future plans and the rumored Cruiserweight tournament.
EB: How you been?
SC: Pretty good. I'm ready to fight again. Looking at early December; probably a fight in early December or mid-December.
EB: Is this part of the Cruiserweight tournament they're trying to put together?
SC: I don't know. It could be. We are looking at it. Got a mandatory to take care of and we will see how it works out. If it is, I am with it. I feel the need to fight, want to fight, got to fight.
EB: Who is your IBF mandatory right now?
SC: There is no one. There is no #1 or #2. Something's gotta happen or we make take an exception fight. Right now, there is no #1 or #2. Troy Ross is #3. [Yoan Pablo] Hernandez is #4. I'm not sure who is #5.
EB: Danny Green is #5 in the IBF rankings, according to the rankings I'm looking at.
SC: (Laughs) Man, when did that happen? Well, he is fighting B.J. Flores soon. What, next month? I would like to see that fight.
EB: So you know if this Cruiserweight tournament is going to happen?
SC: Yeah, they are working on it. I don't have anything to put out yet. I haven't signed anything. As long as everything looks good, I'm there; which I believe it will. Shoot, wait till everyone else signs on, then it's party time.
EB: This would be a great kickoff for the Cruiserweights again because you don't get the love you deserve in the division.
SC: You're right. We don't. Even with the tournament, it still ain't no American television. The American media don't give a damn about Cruiserweights. The fans, I get a lot of feedback for the division. They want to see us, the division, but we don't get a chance to showcase our skills and I don't understand that. It mindboggles me still.
EB: Yeah, because you're signed to a German promoter, right?
SC: Yeah, Sauerland Events. I signed with them in May of this year. I fought on a Sauerland Events show against Marco Huck and saw how they did business and felt comfortable with them. We liked how they did business.
EB: Yeah, you got to go with the best promoter you feel most comfortable. And they have other cruiserweights, like Marco Huck, under that banner. Plus, cruiserweights are more popular over there.
SC: Yeah. They are way more popular over there. They are treated like real fighters. Over here, cruiserweights are treated like step children no one wants (laughs). You know, I got to do what I got to do to help my career and opportunities, so we signed with a German promoter. I'm comfortable with it.
EB: It makes sense because U.S. promoters are not really promoting cruiserweights.
SC: Yeah. We talked contracts with some U.S. promoters, and European promoters, and the contracts from the European promoters had totally different numbers from the American promoters because of television, and that's where the money comes from. I would love to fight over here and get a bigger fan base. If they can't get an outlet to do that, I can't waste my time.
EB: Yeah, we don't have that many American cruiserweights over here. B.J. Flores, Matt Godfrey. Godfrey pulled out on you.
SC: Yeah, he pulled out because of the money, which goes to show there ain't no money over here. He fought Huck, and I'm sure he got paid, but I'm not sure how much.
EB: Are you trying to unify the Cruiserweight division or move up to Heavyweight?
SC: Right now, just cruiserweight. Heavyweight is looking tempting, but I don't want to do anything until I've fought for the rest of these belts. I want to make a mark in this division, then I'll look at Heavyweight. I am interested.
EB: Who would you like to fight in your next fight? I know you said you're looking at an exception. Who would be a good fight for you?
SC: I don't know. We got to look at that. Anybody! I would like my next fight to be a unification belt to be honest.
EB: Well, Marco Huck got the WBO belt. You guys had a good fight.
SC: (Laughs) It was great for me; not sure for him.
EB: Troy Ross said he wants to get you back in the ring.
SC: Yeah, of course you want to get the guy that beat you back in the ring. Man, let yourself go; but whatever. He scored a flash knockdown. His team knows I was whoopin' his pants off. Then they got hype and excited over that, saying they would have won the fight. I'm like, man, if they know me, a knockdown in the third didn't make it different for me. You know, the cut happened; the punch was thrown that delivered the cut. A lot of people don't know we had a protest hearing. Troy Ross had a protest hearing to see if he could get an immediate rematch and the IBF ruled that it was a punch. The thumb is part of the glove. My fist was balled up; I didn't have my thumb out. That's what happens; you get cut. So they ruled it was a punch. But we helped him stay in the top rankings, that's why he's #3. My wife/manager and my lawyers, they lobbied for the guy. I wouldn't mind fighting him again, but he got to work himself back up. I have no problem with that. Get back to the #1 spot. Actually, he was never #1. He was like #5 or something and given the fight because Godfrey gave it up. He was called and offered the fight and he accepted. And there you have it. He is a very good fighter and I believe we will meet again. He will be back up in the IBF. I think I will be victorious again, but not by a cut. Well, actually, I don't know; a victory is a victory.
EB: Is there anything else you would like to say to the fans?
SC: Well, we would like to thank the fans for praying for us and being with us for Victories with my daughter's surgery. We really appreciate the love and respect and the caring. We know it's kind of difficult for the fans to root for us because they can't see us. My wife and I are working on seeing if we can get an internet link to our website so the fans can view the fight. We want it promoted properly in America.
EB: Alright, well. I appreciate your time
SC: Thanks.