With Tomasz Adamek vacating the IBF cruiserweight title in order to move up for a heavyweight fight in Poland with Andrew Golota, Steve "USS" Cunningham and Matt Godfrey will lock horns for the vacated strap.
Cunningham held the title until last December, when he dropped it to Adamek in their thrilling Fight of the Year candidate in Newark. Since that time, Cunningham has waited for a rematch to materialize, but one just didn't.
As for his feelings on this fight, he's his usual self.
"Once again, I've got my marching orders, my mission is to be two time world champion, and with Adamek vacating the title, my sights are set on beating Matt Godfrey, I honestly thought it was going to go this way since July so he's been on my radar.
"It's kinda bittersweet, I've wanted the rematch since December, I thought I did enough to win the fight then and I wanted to take my belt back from Adamek, but if the rematch can't be made, this is the next best thing. I've been saying since December I'll be 2 time in '09, and I still want that. I'm ready, willing and able to fight anyone for the IBF World Title, I've been in the gym steady, like I always am and I am ready to fight."
A date and location is expected to be announced shortly. Hopefully if Cunningham (22-2, 11 KO) is able to beat Godfrey (20-1, 10 KO) and Adamek does return to the cruiserweight division, where he's still recognized as the true world champion, we can finally get Adamek-Cunningham II to happen in 2010. I know there are still plenty of folks who want to see it happen.