Cruiserweight

Before anyone jumps on me for this headline, maybe the word “steals” is a little harsh.  Even calling Tomasz Adamek’s fourth-round knockdown of Steve Cunningham lucky would be a stretch.  But at the very least it was fortuitous.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Adamek, the undisputed Cruiserweight champion of the world, and Steve Cunningham have just turned in a “Fight of the Year” candidate tonight on Versus. 

After a tentative start, a surprising, or rather unexpected, second, third, and fourth rounds, the two warriors got down to brass tacks and beginning in the tenth, the two traded shot for shot for the last three rounds. 

The surprises of the second and fourth rounds were one-punch knockdowns on the part of Tomasz Adamek. In both rounds he absorbed everything Cunningham could lay on him only to lay out the number one contender with evil right hands. 

Cunningham spent the first half of the fight in a tentative defensive shell, jabbing awkwardly, backing up, and sneaking in right hands where he could. 

The fourth was not so, however, as for the first two minutes Cunningham had Adamek wobbled and laid every uppercut and right hand he had on the battling Pole in an attempt to stop the fight early. 

Unfortunately for the Philadelphian, Adamek’s jaw has a consistency somewhere between granite and reinforced concrete. Adamek weathered the assault and in the last 20 seconds, floored Cunningham with a right hand that resembled an 18-inch artillery shell. 

From the fifth to the ninth, Cunningham took control of the fight and won most of those rounds, but Adamek was able to force the tempo up. Then in the ninth, late in the round again, Adamek caught Cunningham with a mean right cross and Cunningham found himself on the canvas for the third time (sort of). 

From then forward, the fight was on. The last four rounds were ebb and flow, punch for punch, toe to toe action. In fact, rounds 10 through 12 could all be given to either fighter. 

I gave two of them to Cunningham, with one even, but I had $10 riding on the American.  After the 12th both men embraced and then retired to their corners for the decision, which is really the important part of this fight. 

First off, Steve Cunningham, an American, an American Veteran, at that, from Philadelphia, was facing a potential hometown decision against an immigrant in NEW JERSEY.

I am not suggesting that this was indeed a hometown decision, after all Adamek did score three knockdowns, but I am highlighting a curious condition of the fight.  (Also 116-112 was a little wide of a margin, and guess who it went to?).

The scores came in 114-112 Cunningham, and 116-112, 115-113 Adamek, making the Pole the new world champion of 200-pound fighters. This is where that fourth round comes into play. 

Up until the knockdown, the fourth was a 10-8 round for Cunningham. If he had not been knockdown, the scores would have been 116-110, 114-114, and 115-113 for Cunningham. But again, 116-110 would have been a huge margin for such a close fight.

Ultimately though, it doesn’t matter who you gave the fight to.  This was a thrilling battle, of exceptionally talented fighters, that demands a rematch with Showtime or HBO as possible carriers. 

While this fight deserves to be on the ballot for fight of the year, I don’t see it beating out Vazquez-Marquez III.  The imminent rematch will most likely be as good considering the desire of Cunningham, the chin of Adamek, and the complementary nature of their styles.

All this together provides evidence to support the headline of the preview article for this fight. Who needs the Heavyweights?

Originally presented live on BoxingWatchers.com.

The main event for tonight's Fight Night on Versus card should be a treat for the fans in Newark, as Philadelphia's Steve Cunningham puts his IBF cruiserweight title on the line against Tomasz Adamek, who is from Poland but lives in Jersey City.

Adamek is a former light heavyweight champion who moved up in weight after a February 2007 loss to Chad Dawson. He's won four straight fights in a row, including an April knockout of O'Neil Bell.

The champ hasn't fought since last December, and he's fought mostly overseas for the majority of his career. He'll enjoy advantages in both height and reach for this bout.

Referee Earl Morton is the man in charge of the action. The fighter introductions are complete and we're all set to go.

Round One

Urged on by the crowd, Adamek is coming forward. Cunningham lands a few quick lefts and is hit with a right to the body in return. The champ is showing good movement and not giving Adamek many angles. Now Adamek lands some shots along the ropes. Cunningham lands a counter and two jabs. Two right hands find the mark too.

Franchise: 10-9 Cunningham

Round Two

Cunningham seems very committed to his jab. Both men flurry in the corner. Adamek walks in and scores with both hands. The champ digs in and fires some hooks. Adamek lands a right hand to the head and one to the body. Cunningham is still bouncing on his feet but he's getting lured into some exchanges. Adamek lands a left hand right at the bell and I believe that will be scored a knockdown.

Franchise: 10-8 Adamek

Round Three

The champ sees none the worse for wear despite hitting the canvas. He's trying to jab but not often enough. Adamek stands and fires a right hand. The challenger is really cutting off the ring well and dictating the action. Cunningham scores with rights to the body and head. Both men land a shot or two right before the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Cunningham

Round Four

Cunningham scores right away with a right hand that stuns Adamek. He presses his advantage and swarms the challenger in the corner. Adamek is eating a bunch of shots but Cunningham has to be cautious that he doesn't punch himself out. Adamek gathers himself and throws some body shots. A right hand comes out of nowhere and drops Cunningham again. Can the champ escape this round? Yes he does.

Franchise: 10-9 Adamek

Round Five

It will be hard to top that last round, as Adamek looked like he was ready to go, then rallied to score a knockdown. Both men are digging in and firing. Cunningham scores with a big right hand upstairs. Adamek responds with clubbing lefts. He walks the champ down and starts to find some openings. The challenger lands a body combo but gets caught upstairs. They stand and trade at the bell and that round will be hard to score.

Franchise: 10-9 Adamek

Round Six

Cunningham goes back to the jab and finds some success. Adamek wades in and both men land. Body shot by Adamek and Cunningham fires back to the head. The challenger does more work along the ropes. The champ has nothing to go with his jab right now, but he does a nice job avoiding most of the incoming fire.

Franchise: 10-9 Cunningham

Round Seven

The champ needs to keep Adamek away from him and find a home for the right hand. He's moving well and Adamek can't track him down. Big right hand hits Adamek but he seems uninjured. The champ digs to the body and follows up to the head. This is a good round for Cunningham, though he gets tagged by a few late shots.

Franchise: 10-9 Cunningham

Round Eight

Cunningham's right hand crashes home again early in this round. If he had more power, this fight would have been over already. Adamek flurries along the ropes and gets the crowd back into it. Body-head combo by the champ. Adamek walks Cunningham into the corner and knocks the champ down again with a left hand during an exchange. The champ is in big trouble but there's no questioning his heart as he makes it out of the round.

Franchise: 10-8 Adamek

Round Nine

Cunningham isn't done yet, as he scores with an early flurry. Adamek backs his foe into the ropes and goes back to work. The champ turns aggressor and he's doing most of the effective punching right now. Right hook upstairs out of a clinch. Right hand by Adamek and a left right back by Cunningham. That round was close.

Franchise: 10-9 Adamek

Round 10

Three rounds to go and Cunningham is going to have to do something spectacular, one would think. Nice right by the champ and Adamek shrugs it off and throws one of his own. Double champ by the champ. More jabs and they circle around. Flurry by Cunningham and another right hand. He keeps the jab in Adamek's face but is missing with some looping shots. They stand and trade with 20 seconds to go.

Franchise: 10-9 Cunningham

Round 11

Adamek is knocked backwards by an early right hand. Both men landing bombs as they dig in. Adamek lands a lunging right coming in. Left-right combo for Cunningham. He's eating some shots but landing some of his own too. It turns into an all-out slugfest down the stretch, and I'm glad I'm not officially scoring that round.

Franchise: 10-9 Adamek

Round 12

Huge right to the head by the champ. Cunningham is going for broke and pouring it on. Punches are landing too fast for me to type as they exchange. Adamek gets the best of an exchange in the middle of the ring. Clean right hand lead by the champ. Adamek looks tired but he is still game. This fight goes right to the final bell the same way most of it unfolded.

Franchise: 10-9 Cunningham

Despite three knockdowns by the challenger, it's quite possible this will be close on the scorecards.

The scores are 114-112 Cunningham, 116-110 Adamek and 115-112 Adamek. The winner by split decison...and new IBF cruiserweight champion of the world...Tomasz Adamek.

Adamek. speaking through a translator, says he is happy and that while Cunningham hit him with some good punches, they were not that strong. He also thinks fights like this are good for boxing, and it's hard to argue that.

Cunningham admits he probably made some tactical errors but makes no excuses. He says the knockdowns were his fault, and he'd box more if granted a rematch.

Thursday, December 11 is a big day for boxing. One man will have a chance to gain the universal recognition he deserves, another to prove he belongs, a new undisputed World Champion will be crowned, and finally, an unappreciated division will have a chance at the spotlight.

This Thursday, Steve Cunningham (21-1, 11 KO) and Tomasz Adamek (35-1, 24 KO) will square off in New Jersey for “The Ring”  Magazine’s undisputed Cruiserweight Championship of the world. This fight mixes old themes and highlights—a new trend that we, as boxing fans, should all be paying attention to.

For the last few years Steve Cunningham, a cagey and tough Philadelphia boxer, has been fighting internationally because Cruiserweights aren’t a big enough draw in America.

He has also been winning and has been ranked No.1 contender by “The Ring” magazine for almost a full calendar year. He has proven himself over and over again as one of the best 200 lb fighters in the world, yet only earned an alphabet strap this year. He has the opportunity to claim the vacant Cruiserweight title by beating the No.2 contender, Tomasz Adamek. 

If you can’t guess from his name, Adamek is a polish brawler who also fought mostly in Europe earning acclaim as a powerful Light-heavyweight before moving to New Jersey and moving up to cruiser.

His short rise through Cruiserweight ranking is meteoric to say the least, capped off by a knockout victory over former undisputed champion O’neil Bell this summer.  Adamek may continue that meteoric rise by defeating Cunningham on the 11th. 

Also, this fight pits a boxer against a slugger, an old but reliable combination that not only provides easy effective publicity, but has produced some of the most thrilling fights in history (Marciano-Walcott, Robinson-LaMotta, Ali-Frazier, and Leonard-Hearns).

Another thing to consider, is that although not modern Heavyweights, these two warriors are 200 pound fighters who can hit, and hit hard. 

My final point is this: With the Klitschko brothers maintaining a stranglehold on the Heavyweight ranks, no foreseeable chance at an undisputed champion, and the dearth of quality contenders, who really needs the Heavyweight division? 

Vitali Klitscho’s victory over Samuel Peter is the Heavyweight highlight of the last three years, and it was a boring fight. In that time, O’neil Bell, Jean-Mark Mormeck, and David Haye have turned in good, exciting performances against one another. 

Consider also that Cruiserweights today most resemble the greats of yesteryear, Jack Dempsey (190 lbs), Joe Louis (195 lbs), Rocky Marciano (187 lbs), and Joe Frazier (200 lbs) would all have fallen into the 200 pound division today. 

Muhammad Ali was also close to 200 pounds (Fighting between 205 and 210) during his prime years in the sixties. Plus, the Super-heavies of yesteryear (Willard, Firpo, and Carnera) were terrible to say the least. 

Whatever you do this week, remember that a real Heavyweight division although not so named, with real fighters, will put on a real championship bout on December 11 at 8:00 PM on Versus. Something that the so named Heavyweight division has not done in years.  

On Jan. 14, former undisputed cruiserweight champion O'neil Bell will be stepping in the ring against Wille Palms. Palms with a record of 10 wins (5KO) six loss is clearly a start up fight into the division. But, many will question why would a former undisputed champion need a start up fight and not a bigger name opponent.

Unfortunately, for Bell it's because he was defeated in his last two bouts. Plus, his camp wants to make sure that all of the cobwebs and excuses are out of his head. Although Bell is a talented boxer and was the only other cruiserweight to become the undisputed champion of the world, other than the one and only Evander Holyfield. It has been said Bell is a hard fighter to keep on the straight an arrow.

Bell started his career like every boxer would love, he got a first round knock out over William Holyfield, nephew to Evander Holyfied a fighter he always looked up to. The thrill was short lived for the moment when he was KO in his second fight by one time prospect Mohamed Benguesmia.

After being stopped in his second professional fight Bell went on a winning streak defeating 26 opponents in a row collecting championships along the way. Bell started out winning small titles such as NABF/USBA cruiserweight titles. He then went on to win the IBF cruiserweight title in a controversial UD over Canadian fighter Dale Brown.

After one successful title defense Bell went on to fight WBC/WBA cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck for a unification bout. Mormeck showed a strong seven rounds before he began to get over worked and pressured by Bell leading to a KO in the 10th round. Mormeck suffered his first knockout of his career, and O'niel Bell added his name to boxing history.

But the glory didn't last long four months later Bell was stripped of the IBF title for withdrawing from a mandatory title defense against number one contender Steve Cunningham. Almost a year later he was accused of throwing an axe at his training partner when he was in Big Bear training for the Mormeck rematch in which he lost.

After losing in Feburary to Mormeck, Bell was expected to fight on ESPN fight night six months later. His match was canceled because ESPN advisers, and Bell's camp couldn't find him anywhere three weeks before the fight.

Bell did return to the ring in April 08, to face Poland native Tomasz Adamek.  Adamek dropped Bell in round one, and continued to dominate the entire fight. Bell called it quits at the end of the seventh round refusing to come back out giving Adameck an eight round TKO.

Promoters and trainer of Bell say moving up to the heavyweight division is going to bring out the champion mentality that Bell once had. They're confident that the stress of making weight was the only mental and physical problem Bell had.

After the TKO lost to Adameck. Bell said,

"I felt sick and tired I can't fight at cruiserweight anymore, my body isn't built for it."

With a 80 percent knockout rate 26 wins (24KO) Bell showed power at cruiserweight and guarantees to bring a lot more power with him to his new division.

Personally, I wish Bell strength and focus because it's always great to see a fighter achieve all he is capable of.

The big question about David Haye as a heavyweight should never have been related to his speed or power. He established rather definitively, in knocking down Monte Barrett several dozen times per round en route to a fifth round stoppage, he possesses both in abundance at heavyweight, just as he did as cruiserweight king.

If anyone tells you he should have finished Barrett off more easily, don't listen; Barrett lasted longer against Wladimir Klitschko, and kept foolishly getting back up against Nicolay Valuev, so he's tough juice.

The real question was; what would happen when Haye was hit by a real heavyweight, considering he never took a shot all that well against smaller men.

As it happens, though, the subject of the first question may be the answer to the second. Barrett, a real heavyweight if not a gigantic one, couldn't touch Haye, landing a couple of jabs and one or two big punches that Haye avoided taking flush.

Haye never has been a defensive genius—his dangling left hand and tendency toward wild slugging are dangerous habits to say the least—but he's sharp enough technically and, above all, fast enough at this weight to avoid getting hit.

If the question never gets asked directly to Haye's chin, then he's sidestepped the whole matter. Barrett's not a slow man. Haye was at warp seven comparatively.

Haye wants one of the Klitschko brothers next, and Barrett is no Klitschko brother. They are accurate punchers who fight intelligently, to the point of excessive safety. Barrett did a lot of big swinging and big missing, but the Klitschkos are going to try to jab Haye into submission before unloading the heavy artillery.

Haye surely has the power to test Wladimir Klitschko's shaky chin, and possibly even Vitali's, something no one, not even Lennox Lewis, has ever done.

Setanta's commentating team correctly noted, with Vitali in attendance with a mic and coy smile, that Haye looked like he could be muscled around by a heavyweight in clinches, something the Klitschkos do as easily to their opponents as breathing.

Vitali said he wanted Lewis to come out of retirement to fight him and for Haye to fight his brother. If that scenario happens, the increasing hostility between the West and Russia will surely be ratcheted up to another level. I wonder how any of it would sell in the United States, where the public loves its heavyweights but is very parochial.

One of the Klitschkos needs to get in there with Haye. It's not anything to be sceptical of anymore. It's a legit fight. One way or the other, Haye proved tonight he can hang with a real heavyweight. And for the first time in a very, very long time, I'm suddenly, truly excited about the prospect of a fight between two men in boxing's biggest division.

(Originally presented at Queensberry-Rules.com)

Britain's David Haye has laid down the challenge to the Klitschko brothers before his heavyweight debut fight with Monte Barrett on November 15th. The fight will be the Briton’s first since moving up from cruiserweight to heavyweight.

Haye approaches his first heavyweight contest against seasoned American Monte Barrett with the prospect of big money matches against both Klitschkos on the horizon. Haye said: “Give me Wladimir first, and then I’ll take on the older brother. Neither of them has the speed I can show them, and they are both vulnerable.”

Vitali Klitschko despatched Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter with little difficulty last Saturday to regain the WBC heavyweight title in front of 17,000 people at the O2 World Arena in Berlin.

Peter quit on his stool at the end of the eighth round after scarcely landing an effective shot in the preceding 24 minutes of the fight. Klitschko joins his brother Wladimir as a heavyweight champion in what is a division severely lacking in possible must see fights.

London born Haye, 21-1 with 20 knockouts, will meet Barrett on Nov. 15 at London's O2 Arena. The 37 year old Barrett has a record of 34-6, two of his defeats coming against world champions Nikolai Valuev and Hasim Rahman, another of his defeats came in his 2000 fight with Wladimir Klitschko.

Barrett put up credible displays in all three fights, rising five times from the canvas against Klitschko before being stopped in the seventh round.

Haye made the point of not looking past his first heavyweight opponent to the prospect of bigger and more lucrative possibilities. The usually confident Londoner described his first foray into the heavyweights as “a massive gamble.”

Haye added: "I don't want to waste anyone's time, if I can't get through Monte, then what's the point? I'm definitely not going to beat Klitschko, so I might as well call it a day."

The Monte Barrett fight will prove to be an effective yard stick on which to measure how far Haye can go in the heavyweight division. Haye who has always struggled to make weight in the cruiserweight division, will hope that his first heavyweight contest can be the making not breaking of his attempt to gain boxing's most prestigious prize; the heavyweight championship of the world.

Haye said: "Our gameplan is still to have two more fights and then the big one against Klitschko next year. I know as a heavyweight I can't afford to take risks. I've got to get in there, do my work and get out. I've got to punch like a whirlwind and take these guys out."

Jamaal Davis addresses the fans about Cancer Awareness

Boxing fans this is a one and only chance for you to support Cancer Awareness and win an autographed T-Shirt signed by many of the great boxers featured and in attendance at the Shamrocks and Dreams Event in Philly on October 4, 2008. The shirt has been signed in person by Hall of Famer Jeff Chandler, Former Heavyweight Champ Tim Witherspoon and his son Tim Witherspoon Jr. (who just got his first victory), IBF Cruiserweight Champion Steve Cunningham, Former World Junior Middleweight Champion Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma, Current NABA Light Heavyweight Champ Yusaf Mack, Irish Boxing Up and Coming Stars Paul Hyland, Simon ‘Slick Fighting Irish’ O’Donnell, Patrick Hyland.

Jamaal Davis with the autographed shirt being auctioned for Cancer Awareness

This pink cancer support t-shirt has a special meaning and it’s a symbol of the Courageous efforts of Philadelphia Boxer Jamaal Davis, who is doing what ever it takes to highlight the importance of cancer awareness, Davis is a young middleweight from Philadelphia who lost his wife Patrilla, who passed away at the age of 25 last December after battling breast cancer for years. Davis who was decked out in pink for Cancer Awareness Month, fought a four round bout on the October 4^th Shamrocks and Dreams Event in honor and memory of his wife. Davis and his kind hearted trainer Sharron Baker have also autographed this shirt. All proceeds from this auction will be donated to The American Cancer Society in memory of Patrilla Davis.

Adamek and Cunningham set to battle for the belt on December 11th

Steve Cunningham current IBF Cruiserweight Champ who is preparing for his December 11^th title defense against Tomasz ‘Polish Warrior’ Adamek at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Is also contributing to this great cause and supporting Davis his gym mate by giving the winner of this auction a chance to meet him and watch one of his training sessions at The James Shuler Memorial Gym.

Steve Cunningham with IBF Championship Belt at Shulers Gym 

Champion Steve Cunningham will also sign a pair of boxing gloves for the winning bidder.

Please help KO Cancer by bidding on this awesome boxing package all proceeds (100%) from this auction will be donated to The American Cancer Society. Winning bidder has the option to make a check payable to the American Cancer Society for the total of the winning bid.

Sharron Baker (left) and Jamaal Davis (center) surrounded by family

Steve Cunningham and the winning bidder must agree on a mutual time for the meet and greet.

EBAY Auction Link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220293483907

For more on the October 4^th Shamrocks and Dreams Boxing Event and Jamaal Davis http://www.diamondboxing.com/newsstory.php?list=4119

For more on Steve Cunningham

http://www.usscunningham.com/

For more on American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

For more on Diamond Boxing  http://www.diamondboxing.com/

Philly’s James Shuler Memorial Gym the Foundation of Boxing Champions

BY:  Robert Epstein www.diamondboxing.com        

When you write about James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym and its boxers your words need to be golden, each word needs to be carefully thought out each word must be crisp and precise. Most of all your thoughts need to have passion and desire, you need to be dedicated to your story and be able demonstrate commitment.  Since these are the keys to the James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym from the crispness of their hits, to their passion, dedication and desire to be successful, the boxers, trainers and coaches at Shuler's expect only the best of themselves. Commitment runs rampant within the gym walls from the up and coming amateurs to the experienced professionals they all share the same goals. When it comes to boxing history especially the rich Philly Boxing History no one at Shuler's comes up short either. They can tell you about the greats from Jolting Jeff Chandler to Bernard Hopkins, from Bob Montgomery to Tim Witherspoon.

Each boxer training on the day we visited wasted no time to show us the love they have for their sport and for each other within the gym. And it was for the love he had for the late James Shuler that Percy "Buster" Custus opened the James Shuler Memorial Gym in 1994.Cutus a trainer had met Shuler while he was working out at Joe Frazier’s Gym the two established a special relationship. They were friends for over 14 years, until Shuler's life was cut short when he passed away from a fatal motorcycle accident in March 1986.

 The city of Brotherly Love holds true to form in Shuler's when we chatted with Gee Culmer, Jamaal Davis, Steve Cunningham, Marianne Marston, Jason Sia, Sharron Baker and Percy Custus himself each one in their own words described the support and encouragement they exude for each other. It was Jamaal Davis who said it best if it wasn't for everyone in my Shuler Gym family I would not have been able to go forward with my career after the passing of my wife Patrilla to cancer last year "There is nothing else I would rather do than be in this gym". Davis spoke about how at 4AM he can call his trainer Sharron Baker and without hesitation she will pickup the phone and listen to him. He told us how Steve Cunningham and his family was there every step of the way to help him deal with the challenging times he was facing and how Nazim Richardson (trainer of Bernard Hopkins) and Percy Custus guide him, “They are my father figures” Davis says. Davis who has dedicated his career to his wife is scheduled to fight on October 4th at the National Guard Armory in Northeast Philadelphia.

The training is fierce no session goes without extreme intensity as their trainer's guide them through  their workout the Shuler Boxer's push each other along. Each one rooting on the other to throw a harder punch, to snap the jab, to get the extra sit up in it just does not stop. Inspiration does not fall short at Shuler's either. Gee Culmer easily pointed to IBF Cruiserweight Champion Steve Cunningham when asked who inspires him to work hard. Culmer stated "Steve Cunningham has the blueprint of hard work locked up "He Cunningham is always in top shape before a fight, after a fight, six month's after a fight, he is always in the same top shape". Cunningham who works out each day with a chest protector (flack jacket) filled with 25 to 30 pounds of weights draped over his body has one of the top physics in the sport to go along with his 21-1 record. Cunningham who is waiting to hear a date for his mandatory title defense against number one challenger Tomasz Ademek, which he is anticipating will be scheduled for late October or November. Cunningham has not fought in the United States since his January 2006 knockout victory over Bryon Lloyd at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Cunningham is anticipating the fight against Ademek to take place on home soil. In the meantime it’s business as usually for Cunningham who has been in two training camps and has been sparring throughout the year to stay sharp. Cunningham is setting his sites on being the true unified champion, he wants to hold all the Cruiserweight belts and after a recent trip to the Induction weekend at the Boxing Hall of Fame, Cunningham has set another goal for himself. He was so taken by the Hall of Fame experience that it's now a goal of his to be inducted one day. The Hall of Fame experience as Cunningham says "Motivated me so much that all my punches have extra snap on them now".

There have been many legendary boxers to come out of Philly the list is pages upon pages long with the names of George Benton, Boogaloo Watts, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkins. Well Gee Culmer and the rest of the boxers at Shuler's know there boxing history, they can tell you stories about all of them. Through films, videos and books they have learned the history of their sport. Culmer who has achieved a 15 -1 record and has fought 10 of his fights at the Philly landmark The Legendary Blue Horizon, can tell you how Archie Moore ended Philadelphia's own Harold Johnson's unbeaten streak at 24 when he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Johnson on April 26, 1949 at Convention Hall in Philly. Culmer can tell you how Jeff Chandler beat Julian Solis twice the first time taking the WBA bantamweight title from Solis and the second time defending the title. It's this type of passion Culmer has about the sport he loves. Culmer also has the love of fighting in The Legendary Blue Horizon were the who's who of Philly Boxing have fought. Culmer says 'It's like a ritual fighting at The Legendary Blue Horizon" "It has a tradition of its own, so many greats have fought there” "It's the ghost of past fighters, there spirits are still in the building". Culmer knows so much about the sport if there was a Jeopardy show on boxing Culmer would be the Champion. However, the only championship Culmer has on his mind right now is working his way up towards the Super Middleweight Championship.

Without doubt it's true Philly Brotherly Love that these boxers, trainers and coaches have for their sport and each other inside and outside the walls of Shuler's Gym. They say that Madison Square Garden in New York is the Mecca of Boxing well then Philly's James Shuler Memorial Gym has to be the Foundation of Boxing Champions.       

Full photo gallery

http://www.diamondboxing.com/pics.php