Amir “Hardcore” Mansour vs. Steve “USS” Cunningham Press Conference Notes

Press Conference for 

Amir “Hardcore” Mansour vs. Steve “USS” Cunningham

NBCSN Fight Night April 4, 2014

Mansour & Cunningham  Photo Courtesy of Darryl Cobb Jr.

Hall of Fame Matchmaker, J Russell Peltz has a long history of putting on great fights in Philadelphia. He said, “In this fight we have the bull and the matador. Here Mansour comes forward like a bull and Steve Cunningham is the matador. Both guys are from the neighborhood. Fights like this are what make Philly the great fight town it has been. Both fighters took a long road to get here. I am really pumped for this fight.”

Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva  Photo Courtesy of Darryl Cobb Jr.

Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva said, “The heavyweight division is starting to get really, really interesting. I don’t think it is going to be so easy for Wladimir Klitschko to dominate. In the next three or four years there is going to be big changes in the division and both these gentlemen have a chance to be part of that change.”

Cunningham & Richardson  Photo Courtesy of Darryl Cobb Jr.

Steve Cunningham’s trainer, Brother Naazim Richardson said, “When I looked at this matchup I wasn’t big on the Philly vs. Philly match-up but these two men’s styles are a great match-up. I don’t underestimate Mansour and his team at all. I realize this is the biggest fight of Mansour’s life. I am comfortable that Steve can compete at the world class level. It is going to be an outstanding card.”

Steve “USS” Cunningham said, “I have so much respect for Mansour. He is doing great things for himself. He’s got a belt I am trying to get a belt and gain position in the division; so is he. This is what happens in boxing. I am taking this very serious. I love proving people wrong, that motivates me. Tell me what I can’t do and I am going to do it. This has been a tough journey for me and my family. I got some heartbreaking news but training camp continues. I must perform in the ring and I won’t lay down for anybody. He knows it is going to be a fight from me and I know it is going to be a fight for him.”

Amir “Hardcore” Mansour  Photo Courtesy of Darryl Cobb Jr.

A choked up Amir “Hardcore” Mansour said, “It is ironic for me to fight Steve Cunningham; I was flabbergasted when they told me. When I got home in 2010 Steve was the first person I saw. He was fighting a southpaw and needed a sparring partner. I was so happy that I performed well with a world champion after an eight and half year layoff and I was literally crying. This is just a great opportunity for me to take advantage of. I know what kind of heart he has and what he brings to the table. I won this title with the flu, dehydrated and sick. I really hurt myself winning this title and I am prepared to defend it. I am not willing to let anyone take it from me. Win, lose or draw we get to bring boxing back to Philadelphia. I am in great shape; I haven’t been in this great of shape since before the August fight. They don’t call me Hardcore for nothing. April fourth I got to do what I got to do. I never had a big fight opportunity and he has. This is my time. 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. I am prepared to die before I lose in this ring. That is my mentality. Before I lose take me out on a stretcher. This is my time to shine. I am prepared for war. We are going to get it on.”

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.

NBC Sports Live Extra:

NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will live stream Fight Night at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT on April 4th.
Coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

All NBC Sports Network live events live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere,” which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.