Jason Cunningham

Jason Cunningham (born 26 September 1989) is a retired British professional boxer who fought primarily in the super bantamweight division and held multiple domestic and regional titles during his career spanning from 2011 to 2023.^[1][2] Hailing from Doncaster, Yorkshire, Cunningham turned professional in December 2011 and quickly established himself as a durable southpaw contender in the British boxing scene.^[3] He amassed a professional record of 32 wins and 7 losses, with 7 knockouts, competing across bantamweight, featherweight, and super bantamweight classes.^[2] His early career highlights included winning the English bantamweight title in 2014, followed by regaining the English title at 118 pounds and capturing the Central Area super bantamweight title.^[2] Cunningham became a two-weight Commonwealth champion, securing the bantamweight version before moving up to claim the featherweight title in 2017.^[2][4] In 2021, Cunningham reached the peak of his achievements by defeating Olympic silver medalist Gamal Yafai to win the European super bantamweight title, marking a significant upset in the domestic ranks.^[2] Later that year, he added the British and Commonwealth super bantamweight titles with a victory over Brad Foster.^[2] Notable setbacks included a fourth-round stoppage loss to Michael Conlan in 2018 and a fight against Zolani Tete in 2022, which was later ruled a no-contest after Tete failed a drug test.^[3][2] Cunningham announced his retirement in January 2024 at age 34, following a stoppage defeat to Liam Davies in July 2023, transitioning to roles as a trainer and manager with the British Boxing Board of Control.^[2]

Early life

Upbringing in Doncaster

Jason Cunningham was born on 26 September 1989 in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. He grew up in the Woodlands suburb of Doncaster, a residential area within the town known for its close-knit community ties.^[3] Doncaster, a post-industrial town in South Yorkshire with a history rooted in coal mining and manufacturing, features a predominantly working-class demographic. This socioeconomic context, marked by economic challenges and lower rates of higher social class households compared to national averages, shaped the experiences of many residents.^[5] Details on Cunningham's family background, including parents, siblings, or specific parental influences on his early discipline and resilience, remain limited in public records. The town's community environment, however, provided exposure to local sports and recreational activities, shaping the experiences of young people like Cunningham during his childhood. Early education likely occurred in local Doncaster schools, though specific institutions or non-boxing interests from his youth are not well-documented. At around age 10, he began showing an initial interest in boxing as a constructive pursuit amid this setting.^[6]

Entry into boxing

Jason Cunningham first entered the world of boxing at the age of 10, beginning his training in his hometown of Doncaster at the local Doncaster Plant Works ABC, a club that provided foundational opportunities for young fighters in the area.^[6][7] Growing up in Doncaster, where community gyms offered structure amid challenging environments, Cunningham was motivated to join the sport as a means to channel his energy and build discipline.^[8] His early experiences involved youth programs at the club, including initial sparring sessions that helped develop his basic techniques and natural southpaw stance.

Amateur career

ABA Championships

Jason Cunningham made his mark in the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) Championships with consistent performances across multiple years, establishing himself as a formidable contender in the lighter weight divisions. In 2009, competing in the bantamweight category (under 54 kg), he reached the final but fell short against James Allen of Sutton ABC by a 12-7 points decision.^[9] The following year, 2010, Cunningham dropped to flyweight (under 51 kg) and advanced to the semi-finals, where he was outpointed 25-5 by Paul Butler of Vauxhall Motors ABC, who went on to claim the title.^[10] These near-misses highlighted his growing technical skill and resilience, honed through rigorous training at Doncaster gyms. Cunningham's breakthrough came in the 2011 ABA Championships, where he captured the flyweight title representing St Paul's ABC. Competing in the under 51 kg division, he progressed through the early rounds with disciplined footwork and counter-punching, leveraging his southpaw stance to outmaneuver opponents. The tournament culminated at the Charter Hall in Colchester on May 14, 2011, with key moments including his dominant control in the later stages against taller rivals.^[11][12] In the final, Cunningham faced Charlie Hoy of Repton ABC and secured a convincing 26-13 unanimous points victory, demonstrating superior speed and accuracy over three rounds.^[12] This win solidified his reputation as a top national amateur talent, drawing attention from selectors for potential international opportunities and underscoring his evolution from regional prospect to British champion.^[13][11]

Other amateur successes

Cunningham represented Great Britain in several international amateur competitions during his career, gaining valuable experience against opponents from Europe and other nations. These bouts, which took place prior to his 2011 ABA victory, showcased his technical prowess and adaptability in the flyweight division, contributing to his development as a versatile boxer.^[6] Building on his domestic achievements, Cunningham's international exposure solidified his reputation within the British boxing community and opened doors to elite-level considerations. However, following his national title win in May 2011, he chose to transition to the professional ranks, making his debut in December of that year. This decision allowed him to pursue a paid career sooner, bypassing extended involvement in programs like the GB Olympic setup.^[12][3]

Professional career

Debut and initial fights

Jason Cunningham made his professional boxing debut on December 9, 2011, defeating Anwar Alfadli by unanimous points decision over four rounds at the City Hall in Hull, England, in a bantamweight bout.^[3] This victory marked the start of his pro career following a strong amateur foundation that included ABA Championships representation.^[6] Remaining based in his hometown of Doncaster, Yorkshire, Cunningham fought primarily in regional venues across northern England during his initial years, building experience against journeyman opponents.^[3] In 2012, he competed six times, securing points wins over Delroy Spencer (twice, in February and September over four and six rounds, respectively), Ryan McNicol (March, four rounds), Anwar Alfadli (April and December, four rounds each), and Janis Puksins (May, four rounds), extending his record to 7-0.^[3] Cunningham maintained a consistent schedule of four to six fights per year, adding unanimous points decisions over Usman Ahmed (May 2013, six rounds at Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster) and Kyle King (September 2013, six rounds in Rotherham) to reach 9-0.^[3] His early professional bouts emphasized technical boxing and decision victories, reflecting the adjustment from amateur three-round formats to professional endurance requirements.^[3] The fighter notched his first stoppage in March 2014, halting Scott Gladwin via second-round TKO at the Doncaster Dome after dropping him three times in a bantamweight contest.^[3] He followed with a unanimous points win over Isaac Owusu in May (10 rounds, Commonwealth title eliminator) and a fourth-round RTD over Dato Kvaratskhelia in June, but encountered his initial defeats later that year: a 12-round split decision loss to Ross Burkinshaw on September 6 for the vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title and a 10-round points setback against Jason Booth in November, both at the Doncaster Dome, with an intervening fourth-round TKO win over Ignac Kassai on November 7 at Doncaster Racecourse.^[3] In 2015, Cunningham rebounded with four victories and one loss, defeating Csaba Kovacs (February, points over eight rounds), Brett Fidoe (May 2, points over six rounds to win the vacant English bantamweight title), and Nasibu Ramadhani (May 15, ninth-round retirement due to shoulder injury after nine rounds to win the vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title), followed by a points win over Marlon Prado (September 5, six rounds), before a unanimous decision loss to Khalid Yafai (October 17, 12 rounds for the vacant British super flyweight title), bringing his record to 17-3 by year's end.^[3] These foundational fights honed his southpaw style and positioned him for greater opportunities in the bantamweight division.^[3]

Title acquisitions and defenses

Building on this success, Cunningham moved up to featherweight and claimed the vacant Commonwealth title on April 8, 2017, edging Ben Jones via split decision (SD) over 12 rounds at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London. In a closely contested bout marked by high volume punching from both, Cunningham's cleaner combinations and effective countering secured scores of 116-113, 115-114, and 113-116 in his favor, though Jones disputed the verdict citing hometown bias.^[14][15] He made no successful defenses before losing the belt to Reece Bellotti by sixth-round TKO on October 13, 2017.^[16] Cunningham's career peaked in the super-bantamweight division starting in 2021, where he first won the vacant European title on May 15, 2021, against Gamal Yafai by unanimous decision (UD) at Manchester Arena. Stepping in on short notice, Cunningham dropped the unbeaten Birmingham prospect three times—with devastating left hooks to the body in rounds 2, 4, and 6—before dominating the later rounds to earn scores of 118-108, 117-109, and 116-110, showcasing his superior ring IQ and power punching.^[17][18] Later that year, on October 9, 2021, Cunningham unified the British and Commonwealth super-bantamweight titles by defeating champion Brad Foster via UD at Utilita Arena in Birmingham. In a tactical war, Cunningham outworked the taller Foster with relentless pressure and accurate southpaw shots, overcoming two early knockdowns to win on scores of 116-112, 115-114, and 114-113, adding the belts to his European crown.^[19][20] He successfully defended his European title twice in 2022, most notably stopping mandatory challenger Terry Le Couviour in the sixth round on April 16 at Telford International Centre. Cunningham floored the undefeated Frenchman three times with brutal body shots—a left hook in round 2, an uppercut in round 4, and a combination in round 6—forcing a stoppage at 0:53 after the final knockdown, demonstrating his devastating inside fighting and conditioning.^[21][22] These achievements elevated Cunningham into the top 15 worldwide in the super-bantamweight division, reaching as high as No. 12 in the WBO rankings by February 2022 and No. 14 by January 2022, positioning him as a credible contender for world honors.^[23]

Major losses and retirement

Cunningham's pursuit of further accolades encountered significant hurdles in the later stages of his career, beginning with a high-profile bout against former two-weight world champion Zolani Tete on July 2, 2022, at the OVO Arena Wembley. Initially stopped in the fourth round by a knockout after two knockdowns, the result was overturned to a no-contest on September 11, 2023, following Tete's failed drug test for a banned substance detected in a post-fight sample. This ruling came after a UK Anti-Doping investigation and a four-year ban imposed on Tete by Boxing South Africa, highlighting doping concerns in the sport but providing Cunningham some vindication amid the physical toll of the defeat.^[24][25] Earlier setbacks had already tested his resilience, including a unanimous decision loss to Michael Conlan on December 22, 2018, at the Manchester Arena, where Cunningham was outpointed over 10 rounds in a contest for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title. Conlan's superior hand speed and volume punching led to scores of 100-90 across the board, marking a challenging period that disrupted Cunningham's momentum following his Commonwealth successes. Similarly, a February 24, 2018, unanimous decision defeat to Jordan Gill in a British featherweight title eliminator at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester saw Cunningham dropped twice and outworked over 10 rounds, with judges scoring 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94, further impacting his push toward domestic contention at lighter weights. These losses, compounded by factors such as weight management challenges and accumulating ring wear, underscored vulnerabilities in his defensive technique against aggressive, high-output opponents.^[26][27][28] Cunningham rebounded with a unanimous decision victory over Miguel Gonzalez on March 25, 2023, at the Telford International Centre, earning scores of 98-92 to claim the vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight title and set up a marquee clash. However, his final fight came on July 29, 2023, against undefeated prospect Liam Davies at the Telford International Centre, where a first-round technical knockout loss—after two knockdowns from Davies' powerful combinations—forced Cunningham to vacate his British, European, and WBC International Silver super bantamweight titles. This abrupt defeat, witnessed by a home crowd favoring Davies, ended a string of title defenses and highlighted the physical demands of competing at 34 years old, with no reported injuries but evident fatigue from prior battles.^[29][30] Reflecting on his 40-bout career, which concluded with a record of 32 wins, 7 losses, and 1 no-contest—seven of his victories by stoppage—Cunningham announced his retirement on January 3, 2024, at age 34. He cited family priorities, including supporting his son's burgeoning boxing career, lingering health effects from knockouts like the Tete fight, and a desire to transition fully into coaching as key factors, stating the timing felt right after fulfilling most of his promotional obligations. This decision allowed him to step away on his terms, avoiding further risks amid an evolving super bantamweight landscape.^[2][31][32]

Post-boxing career

Transition to coaching

Following his retirement from professional boxing in January 2024, Jason Cunningham swiftly transitioned into coaching, obtaining his license as a trainer with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).^[33] He began working out of DB Fitness & Circuit Centre in Doncaster, focusing on amateur and professional development.^[34] In 2024, Cunningham's first full year as a coach was marked by intense dedication, where he described maintaining "the same passion and same commitment as when I boxed," creating special memories through his work.^[35] He mentored promising local talents, emphasizing hard work and clean living, stating it was "a pleasure to train two such hard-working, clean-living young men who strive tirelessly to better themselves."^[36] Among his notable trainees was undefeated flyweight Conner Kelsall, whom Cunningham coached to victory in his Commonwealth title challenge against Conor Quinn on June 28, 2024, in Belfast, marking Kelsall's first major championship win.^[36][37] Cunningham also prepared super lightweight James Flint (Jimmy Joe Flint) for his IBO title fight on June 29, 2024, in Rotherham, highlighting his role in readying fighters for domestic cards.^[36] In early 2025, he guided Kelsall toward high-profile matchups, including an ordered fight against champion Jay Harris, though the bout did not proceed after Harris's retirement in February 2025.^[38][39] As of late 2025, Cunningham continues to coach at DB Fitness and expand his training programs.^[33]

Charitable work

Following his retirement from professional boxing in January 2024, Jason Cunningham launched the Iceman Foundation on April 16, 2024, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth in Doncaster through boxing programs focused on personal development, mental health improvement, and anti-violence initiatives.^[8] The foundation's core aim is to promote boxing as a positive life skill, drawing from Cunningham's own upbringing in Doncaster where the sport provided structure and discipline during challenging times, and his prior community involvement alongside boxers Jamie and Gavin McDonnell.^[8] By April 2025, marking the end of its first year, the Iceman Foundation had achieved notable milestones, including securing funding to offer free training sessions for local children and establishing a popular running club and "mini-hitters" program.^[8] Key events included weekly Saturday running sessions at Pitman Road featuring hill sprints and 3-4 km runs starting at 9 a.m., followed by non-contact gym sessions from 10-11 a.m. at Crossings on Doncaster Road in Denaby Main, specifically targeting kids aged 5-10 to introduce boxing fundamentals in a safe environment.^[8] These initiatives have impacted dozens of local youngsters by providing accessible, no-cost opportunities to build character, physical fitness, and resilience, helping to steer them away from negative influences through structured sports engagement.^[8] The foundation collaborates with Doncaster community groups to expand outreach and has ties to England Boxing for program support, enhancing its efforts to integrate boxing into broader anti-violence and youth empowerment strategies.^[8] This philanthropic work complements Cunningham's transition to coaching, allowing him to leverage his expertise for community-wide inspiration rather than individual training.^[8] As of late 2025, the foundation continues to offer programs such as women's well-being and fitness classes.^[40]

Achievements

Regional titles held

Jason Cunningham captured several regional and domestic titles across multiple weight classes during his professional career, serving as key milestones in his progression through the British and international boxing ranks. These achievements, sanctioned by bodies such as the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), the Commonwealth Boxing Council, and the European Boxing Union (EBU), highlight his consistency at domestic levels before pursuing higher honors.^[3][2] The following table summarizes the regional titles he held, including acquisition and vacating details, weight classes, sanctioning bodies, and defenses: Across all titles, Cunningham recorded a total of two successful defenses, both under the EBU banner, demonstrating his strongest tenure at super-bantamweight. No interim titles were involved in his regional successes.^[3][56]

Career highlights

Jason Cunningham compiled a professional boxing record of 32 wins, 7 losses, and 1 no contest across 40 fights, achieving 7 knockouts for a 21.88% knockout rate.^[3] Competing as a southpaw at 5 feet 7 inches tall in the super bantamweight division, he debuted in 2011 and remained active until 2023.^[3] His career emphasized durable, decision-based victories, reflecting a tactical style that prioritized endurance over power. Among his notable achievements were comeback performances that showcased resilience, such as his 2023 unanimous decision win over former world title challenger Miguel González for the vacant WBO International super bantamweight title, marking a strong return after a setback.^[54] Earlier, he secured upsets like his 2021 majority decision over previously unbeaten Iuliano Gallo in Italy, demonstrating his ability to perform on foreign soil against favored opponents.^[47] These bouts highlighted his poise in high-stakes scenarios, earning him the nickname "The Iceman."^[3] Cunningham peaked in the top 15 of the super bantamweight division according to the IBF following his European title win in 2021 and later with the WBO after his González victory, though he never secured a world title opportunity.^[57][54] As a longstanding domestic contender from Doncaster, he became a key figure in elevating the local boxing community, inspiring regional talent through consistent title challenges over nearly a decade.^[2]