IBF cruiserweight world champion, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, will be taking a little time out from training for his upcoming title defense against Tomasz Adamek on the 11th December at the Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, to be one of the guest panelists at the U.S. Sports film festival which is being hosted by the city of Philadelphia between the 23rd and 26th October 2008..
Steve jumped at the opportunity to be part of this special event, especially as the film he will be discussing is a documentary about fellow boxer and former world champion, Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma, saying “It’s always an honor to be asked to do anything, but I feel specially honored to be asked to be one of the panelists that will be discussing the movie about the life of Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma at the U.S. Sports film festival.
Kassim is an amazing dude. You just have to look where he came from and what he came through as a child and yet he remains so normal, not mentally disturbed or anything. I think if I had to go through what he had It would affect me badly. I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like to be
taken from your home and family and be forced to be a child soldier. That would have disturbed me real bad. It’s an amazing thing to see the worse things that could happen to a guy and yet he can still turnout so well adjusted. It’s just beautiful. For me, it puts my life in perspective.”
It’s a true honor for me to part of this film festival and to be part of a panel for a documentary of such importance. People have to be made aware of what has happened and is still going on over in parts of Africa. But at the same time it’s great that we can celebrate that one of these poor´ souls has had the chance to start a new life and has taken that chance and become a successful sportsman, more than that, he became a world champion.”
The inaugural U.S. Sports Film Festival will be the most comprehensive sports film festival in United States history. The USSFF will be held in various locations throughout the city of Philadelphia from October 23-26, and will feature a combination of classic sports films, in-depth
documentaries and never before seen releases.
25 films are scheduled for screening, ranging from the traditional sports to Mixed Martial Art and Extreme Endurance Racing.
The film Steve and his fellow panelists will be discussing is Kassim The Dream. The story of World Champion Boxer, Kassim “The Dream” Ouma – born in Uganda, kidnapped by the rebel army and trained to be a child soldier at the age of 6. When the rebels took over the government, Kassim became an army soldier who was forced to commit many horrific atrocities, making him both a victim and perpetrator. He soon discovered the army’s boxing team and realized the sport was his ticket to freedom. After 12 years of warfare, Kassim defected from Africa and arrived in the United States. Homeless and culture shocked, he quickly rose through the boxing ranks and became Junior Middleweight Champion of the World.
Kassim The Dream will be screened at the Prince Music Theater (Black Box), 1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA at 9pm on Saturday 25th October 2008. To obtain tickets for Kassim the Dream and all other films featured at the U.S. Sports Film Festival go to www.ussportsfilmfestival.com or call 646-233-2033
The International Boxing Federation World Cruiserweight Championship Title Fight between Champion, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham and challenger, Tomasz ‘Polish Warrior’ Adamek is co-promoted by Main Events and Don King Productions, will take place at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Thursday December 11th 2008.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at The Prudential Center box office or by calling TicketMaster on 201-507-8900
Damian Jonak keeps WBC Youth junior middleweight belt
Polish junior middleweight Damian Jonak (19-0, 14 KOs) successfully defended his WBC World Youth belt and captured vacant WBC Baltic title defeating Mika Joensuu (11-1, 2 KOs) form Finland in the main event of the card promoted by Bullit KnockOut Promotions in Zabrze, Poland.
Jonak dominated his opponent from the first bell punishing him with big body shots, uppercuts and hooks from both hands and finally knocking him down with right overhand in the 4th round. Joensuu beat the count but his corner decided to threw in the towel.
Andrzej Wawrzyk (12-0, 8 KOs) knocked out in the 8th round Harry Duiven Jr. (13-4-1, 11 KOs) to win vacant WBC Youth heavyweight title. Few seconds before the end of round number 7 Wawrzyk caught Duiven Jr. with some heavy punches. Duiven went down but beat the count easily and get a minute to recover as the bell rang. In the 8th after four left-right combinations from Wawrzyk followed by two right hooks Duiven was floored for the second and the last time in the fight.
WBC Youth cruiserweight champion Tomasz Hutkowski (12-0-1, 9 KOs) retained his belt with unanimous decision over Sandro Siproshvili (13-4, 4 KOs). After 10 entertaining rounds scores were 96-94, 97-93, 100-90.
In his Professional debut co-promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing Artur Szpilka knocked down Senol Cente (1-4, 0 KO) twice- in the 1st and the 2nd round on his way to unanimous decision victory (40-34, 40-34, 40-34).
Grzegorz Soszynski (10-0-1, 5 KOs) won Polish International light heavyweight title defeating Jiri Svacina (9-3, 0 KO) by TKO in the 8th round.
‘Twin Tyson’ Cliff Couser to make UK Debut
Las Vegas based heavyweight, the enigmatic Cliff ‘Twin Tyson’ Couser will make his first paid trip to the UK in November for a fight on the 27th of the month at the Westland Leisure Complex in Yeovil, Somerset.
Mike Tyson’s half brother and lookalike, Cliff will be involved in a 4 round contest against ‘White Tiger’ Mike English in what is sure to be an all action fight where both boxers will come forward and meet in the middle of the ring.
Cliff had to pull out from a fight against Irish based Cuban Heavyweight Mike Perez to take the November date. Of the Perez fight Cliff said “I am 100% confident I would have taught Perez a boxing lesson – they see my record and they think I am an easy win, but I’ve knocked out James Tillis, Jorge Luis Gonzalez and more recently Monte Barrett who is about to give David Haye his biggest test to date no less – I punch hard – give me an opportunity and I’ll put you on your ass – a young guy like Perez with only 4 or 5 fights would have given me lots of opportunities! I wish him the best though, I watched him on YouTube and he looks a good talent”.
And of his first UK fight Cliff said “I can’t wait to get to England, I am going to break some bones. I don’t care who gets put in front of me – it’s time for me to get back to my destructive winning ways, and that is going to happen in England on November 27th”
Cliff continued “I’ve worked my ass off through the years, alot of people will know me from the internet forums where I look for fights, I’ll literally fight anyone, anywhere, anytime – and I don’t think I’ve ever been in a boring fight. I’m calling this UK trip a fresh start”
The November show is licensed and regulated by the British Boxing Federation and promoted by International Boxing Empire Promoters who said “this is self regulated boxing – forget ‘The Prizefighter’ this is the fastest paced, most adrenaline fuelled boxing you’ll see – stand up toe to toe action all the way – we only use trained boxers who come to fight and get paid for their time”
There will be a full undercard featuring some of the best BBF boxers in 3, 4 and 6 round fights. Doors open at 7.30pm – first bell rings at 8pm
All BBF shows are covered with Public Liability Insurance and all boxers must be Officially Licensed by BBF.
Tickets are available directly from Westland Leisure Complex – www.westlandonline.co.uk – Telephone: 01935 848380
Prices are – Ringside £45 / Outer Ringside £35 / Unreserved £30
A £10 discount on the above prices is available on tickets purchased before November 21st.
International Boxing Empire Promoters are available for interviews regarding ‘self regulated’ and ‘BBBofC regulated’ boxing – contact info@ibeboxing.com