Craig Cunningham could give up his title
Craig Cunningham admits he could vacate the Midlands middleweight title if he runs out of patience with a lack of challengers to his crown.
The Oldbury-based Brummie has had to settle for tomorrow night's eight-rounder with Marcus Le Doux, which could yet drop to six,
The slick southpaw was crowned in December of last year and is still waiting for his first defence, despite manager Jon Pegg's best efforts.
They are talking about dropping the 27-year-old down to light middle, then going for that Midlands strap or one of the major national titles.
Cunningham has been told to keep fit and hover around the weight, as he issued possibly his last open challenge for a contender at 11st.
He said: "It's done my head in, to be honest. I want title fights and tests but nobody seems to fancy it. I feel champions need to defend.
"Maybe it's my style that's the problem. I am awkward opponent, so it's not like I am going to get many calls to go out on the road, either.
"I will fight on away shows, in fact I might prefer it. I don't really feel pressure in the ring and I just concentrate on what I do best, boxing.
"I keeping hearing that people are asking about fighting me, so where are they? I would have took on anybody when I got to the belt.
"Anybody who fancies a shot at the Midlands, come and get it. That's Andrew Robinson, Lennox Clarke, anybody - let's get it on!"
Cunningham became Midlands boss by outpointing 'Prince' David Davis, who was then stopped in the ninth earlier this month by Robinson for the vacant area strap at super middle.
What a contest it could be if those two agree to go head-to-head at one of the weights, perhaps at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in November.
Cunningham keeps busy, in the meantime, in the Holte Suite at Aston Villa against Le Doux, who put him down for the first time in 2013.
A highly-entertaining four-rounder saw Cunningham drop him twice with a left hand inside two rounds, before walking onto a stiff right.
The bout eventually went the distance with Cunningham a 39-37 winner on the cards, although he admits it's likely to be different this time.
He recalls: "Our last meeting was interesting, to say the least! I'd put him down twice and I was pumped up, playing to the crowd. It was easy!
"But I got caught flat footed and hit the deck, as there was nowhere to back up. I was fine, but it taught me a lesson and I won't make that same mistake again.
"I will do here what I should have done then, settle down and box him. If the knockout comes, it comes."
