Pete Cunningham (kickboxer)

Peter Cunningham
BornMarch 25, 1963 (1963-03-25) (age 61)
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Other namesSugarfoot
ResidenceLos Angeles, California
NationalityCanadian
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
DivisionLightweight
Super Lightweight
Junior Welterweight
Welterweight
StyleChitō-ryū, Karate, Ukidokan Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing
Fighting out ofThe Jet Center
Teacher(s)Robert Supeene Sr., Tom Forstreuter, Ed Couzens, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez
Rank5th degree black belt in Kempo Karate, 2nd degree black belt in Chito-Ryu Karate
Years active18 years
Professional boxing record
Total14
Wins10
Losses4
Kickboxing record
Total53
Wins50
By knockout21
Losses1
Draws2
Other information
OccupationCoach at Sugarfoot Kickboxing Coach at Team USA Kickboxing
Notable studentsRichard Norton, Stephen Quadros, Vinc Pichel, Mia St. John, Mikaela Mayer
Websitesugarfootkickboxing.com

Peter "Sugarfoot" Cunningham (born March 25, 1963) is a retired Canadian 7-time World Champion[1] Hall of Fame[2] kickboxer, boxer, martial artist, actor and author. Rated by experts as one of the greatest full contact fighters of all time,[3] Sugarfoot was a superb technician who possessed high fighting I.Q. and lightning speed. He retired from kickboxing in 1996[4] with a record of 50-1-1, having avenged the only draw of his career but only one defeated Peter, the undefeated Richard Sylla at the WKA World Title in Paris. Cunningham's skills in the ring have been praised by many martial arts legends, including Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Chuck Norris, Dan Inosanto, Rigan Machado, Don "The Dragon" Wilson and many others. Cunningham maintained a high level competition throughout his career as most of his opponents were either current or former champions. In 1998 in San Jose, California, Peter was honored as the inaugural inductee in the I.S.K.A. Hall of Fame.[5]

Cunningham's nickname "Sugarfoot" is a combination of the names of two great fighters in boxing and kickboxing that his style most resembled, "Sugar" Ray Leonard and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, and it was given to him by his peers at his first dojo in Edmonton, Canada while he was still a teenager.

Peter's World Titles included the W.K.A (World Karate Association) Lightweight,[6] Super Lightweight[7] and Junior Walterweight[8] World Titles, the K.I.C.K. (Karate International Council of Kickboxing) Super Lightweight Title,[9] the I.M.F. (International Muay Thai Federation) Junior Welterweight Title,[10] and the I.S.K.A. (International Sport Karate Association) Light Welterweight World Title.

Sugarfoot is also an actor and has appeared in TV series such as Kung Fu: The Legend Continues[11] and CSI,[12] and in movies such as No Retreat, No Surrender[13] (1986) and The Fighter (2010).[14]

  1. ^ Testimonials of a Legendary Champion. NLD Co. 2013. p. 13. ISBN 978-1494325558.
  2. ^ Testimonials of a Legendary Champion. NLD Co. 2013. p. 13. ISBN 978-1494325558.
  3. ^ Civilized Warring. Galt Publishing. 1993. p. 192. ISBN 0-9649331-0-1.
  4. ^ Testimonials of a Legendary Champion. NLD Co. 2013. p. 13. ISBN 978-1494325558.
  5. ^ "Peter Cunningham Biography". Archived from the original on 2016-04-25.
  6. ^ Civilized Warring. Galt Publishing. 1996. p. 192. ISBN 0-9649331-0-1.
  7. ^ Civilized Warring. Galt Publishing. 1996. p. 192. ISBN 0-9649331-0-1.
  8. ^ Civilized Warring. Galt Publishing. 1996. p. 192. ISBN 0-9649331-0-1.
  9. ^ Civilized Warring. Galt Publishing. 1996. p. 192. ISBN 0-9649331-0-1.
  10. ^ Civilized Warring. Galt Publishing. 1996. p. 192. ISBN 0-9649331-0-1.
  11. ^ "Peter Cunningham IMDB". IMDb.
  12. ^ "Peter Cunningham IMDB". IMDb.
  13. ^ "Peter Cunningham IMDB". IMDb.
  14. ^ "Peter Cunningham IMDB". IMDb.