US challenger wants rematch

PHILADELPHIA – US cruiserweight challenger Steve Cunningham wants his mandatory rematch against Poland’s Krzysztof Wlodarczyk staged outside the champion’s homeland after a controversial loss.

The International Boxing Federation last month ordered a rematch of Wlodarczyk’s split-decision victory November 25 in Warsaw for a then-vacant title because neither fighter was given a drug test after the bout. “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, especially when one of their own is in the ring.”Cunningham said he was never supplied rules decisions governing the fight on such matters as ring size, glove styles and a late judging switch from an Italian to a Pole who had never scored a world title fight.An American judge saw Cunningham a 119-109 winner while a Polish judge went for Wlodarczyk 115-113 and a German judge gave the Pole a 116-112 verdict.Nampa-AFP”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, especially when one of their own is in the ring.”Cunningham said he was never supplied rules decisions governing the fight on such matters as ring size, glove styles and a late judging switch from an Italian to a Pole who had never scored a world title fight.An American judge saw Cunningham a 119-109 winner while a Polish judge went for Wlodarczyk 115-113 and a German judge gave the Pole a 116-112 verdict.Nampa-AFP