One of British boxing’s most decorated but most underappreciated fighters has decided to hang up his gloves.
Doncaster’s Jason Cunningham won the English bantamweight title back in 2014 and remained a stalwart of the domestic title scene for almost a decade.
Cunningham spent years jumping up and down the weights and pursuing opportunities whenever and wherever they cropped up. He enjoyed success and as well as regaining his English title at 118lbs and winning a Central Area title at super bantamweight, he also added Commonwealth titles at bantamweight and featherweight.
Eventually, he settled at super bantamweight and enjoyed an Indian Summer at 122lbs. In 2021 he stunned the highly rated Gamal Yafai to win the European title and then upset the unbeaten Brad Foster to add the British and Commonwealth belts to his trophy cabinet.
His career didn’t end the way he would have liked. A high stakes clash with former world champion, Zolani Tete, turned into a nightmare. The South African inflicted a painful fourth round stoppage on him but subsequently failed a drug test. The result was changed to a no-contest but the damage was done. Cunningham rebounded with a solid win against Chile’s Miguel Gonzalez but his rival, Liam Davies, then stopped him inside a round last July.
Cunningham has ‘The Underdog Who Never Lost Hope’ tattooed across his chest and it is hard to think a better way to describe him.
The 33-year-old wasn’t blessed with devastating power and went about his business in a respectful rather than outspoken way. He earned everything he got from the sport by relying on dedication, solid fundamentals and a will to win. The British scene will be poorer without him.
He retires with a record of 32 wins and seven defeats. Seven of his victories came by knockout. He will know work out of the gym of his longtime friend, manager and promoter, Stefy Bull, as a trainer and manager.