Two-time cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham has accused German ring doctor Walter Wagner of openly supporting his opponent Yoan Pablo Hernandez and improperly stopping the their fight without justification when Yoan Pablo Hernandez was awarded the IBF title by split technical decision after the sixth round in Saturday’s fight in Neubrandenburg, Germany. Cunningham further charges that through a press release distributed by Sauerland Event (promoter of both Cunningham and Hernandez) that Hernandez’ trainer Ulli Wegner is trying to divert attention away from the from the questionable stoppage.

After the fight, Wegner alleged that referee Mickey Vann gave Cunningham a long count when he was knocked down in round one and the bout should have been a first round KO. Cunningham believes Wegner is looking to divert attention away from the role played by the ring doctor Walter Wagner, who advised referee Vann that the fight should be stopped on cuts even though the cuts suffered by Hernandez were not bleeding.

“As soon as I read what Wegner was saying, I knew what it was – they want to take the focus off the way the fight was stopped,” said Cunningham. “I am a true champion and despite the knock down, I was coming back to win that fight and they were not going to let that happen.”

In an AP report, Dr. Wagner is quoted as stating that he recommended that the Cunningham-Hernandez bout be stopped even though “the cuts weren’t dangerous but the blood could have run into his eyes and affected his vision. I think the head clashes that the referee felt were accidental weren’t entirely accidental. You can have different opinions there. Hernandez was at a disadvantage from the cuts, so I gave the recommendation.”

Cunningham alleges that Dr. Wagner was observed at ringside cheering on Hernandez and was allegedly keeping a scorecard together with a representative of Sauerland Event before advising the referee to stop the bout, even though he admitted the cuts weren’t dangerous.

Regarding Dr. Wagner dismissing the judgment of the referee about whether the clashes of heads were accidental or not, Cunninnham stated “Everyone knows that the referee is the one to make those calls. I am not a dirty fighter, never have been. When an orthodox and a southpaw fight, head butts are likely to happen, and with that cuts are likely also, but if the cuts were not causing a problem, the fight should have continued. The only person with a disadvantage was me, I was fighting against way more that Yoan Pablo Hernandez on Saturday night.”

Dr. Wagner is well known as the ring doctor who was in the corner of Ulli Wegner-trained Arthur Abraham when Abraham was permitted to fight on against Edison Miranda, in spite of having suffered a broken jaw and with Abraham’s face being a mask of blood throughout the bout. “It’s really crazy. Abraham was allowed to fight on like a warrior despite his serious injuries and my fight was stopped due to two cuts that weren’t bleeding, I guess they liked their chances with Abraham over Miranda more than they did of Hernandez beating me,” said Cunningham.

Cunningham then went on to recount that Hernandez walked to the center of the ring, without a drop of blood coming from either cut, and shrugged to Cunningham like he didn’t know why the fight was being stopped.

“I am a world champion, this is how I provide for my family and I have and always will fight to the end. Perhaps [Ulli] Wegner was out for some revenge after what I did to Huck, they wanted my belt and were willing to do whatever to take it” said Cunningham, before continuing “I have asked my lawyer to look what my options are, at the end of the day, no one should feel good about the way this fight ended. Hernandez and I share the same promoter and they should want to see this rectified. I have always been so proud to be the IBF champion, they are an organization that stands behind their rules and does not get pulled into the shady politics and I respect them so much for that. I know they want their champions to earn the title, a rematch is truly in order.”

Check out the fight and then make your own mind up.

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