Exclusive Boxing Interview: Michael Hunter

Hartlepool, England’s Michael Hunter, the reigning European Super Bantamweight
Champion, is one of Britain’s most exciting boxers. His aggressive, come forward style of fighting delights both his loyal fan base – a huge crowd of vocal supporters who follow Michael to each and every fight he has – and a television audience that watch him on Sky Sports. He is quite simply never in a bad fight and in the not too distant future a world title shot will
surely be his.

Currently in training for his next bout, Michael very kindly took time out to talk to SaddoBoxing recently. The following text recounts how the interview went and what the top-ten world rated super bantamweight had to say

SaddoBoxing: I know you are in training at the moment, have you an opponent lined up for your next fight?

Michael Hunter: Well, I won’t say until it’s finalised, but there are three possible names lined up. I’m fighting on November the 3rd. But as I say, its down to one of three opponents.

SB: Is there a venue decided upon yet?

MH: “Yeah, its Hartlepool Borough Hall as usual. I love fighting there for the fans, Sky Sports like coming down too. They asked us why we changed to Blackpool last time and I said it was just for a change . To give the fans a good night out. Also, I didn’t want to become complacent fighting at home all the time. That’s how things can happen in fights.”

SB: How’s training going?

MH: “I’m in hard training now. I’m rested and I needed to be. You’ll see in the next fight what a rested Michael Hunter can do. People said I looked tired in my last fight but it was my third scheduled twelve rounder in three months. You’ll see a powerhouse in the next fight, believe me.”

SB: Now that you’ve won the British, Commonwealth and European belts, are you looking for the world title next? And if so who would you like to fight?

MH: “I never shout out any opponent, I never bad mouth them either, but I’ll fight anyone. We’re supposed to fight an IBF final eliminator against the South African guy, Gabula Vabaza. So we might go that route. Or maybe a shot straight at a world title will come. A world title’s the only belt I’ve not yet won. So it’s got to be that soon.”

SB: Are you concerned at all about fighting abroad? I know you’ve had a fight in Italy. Will you fight anywhere?

MH: “It doesn’t bother me, a ring is a ring and as long as the opponent is the same size as me, I’ll fight anyone, I’m not bothered. In fact, we’re supposed to go to Las Vegas next week, to train. And I’ve been training in Tenerife, too. I actually prefer running there, in the heat, more than I do over here in the rain and the cold. I like the hot climate. I was running fifty minutes to an hour over there.”

SB: Do you really enjoy your training?

MH: “Oh yeah, I do. When I’m not in training I’ll have a few lagers like, but when it’s time to get back into it, it’s no problem. I’ve been running five miles on a morning and five miles on an evening. Sometimes while holding weights as well. I’m a good runner, in fact I entered a local race in Hartlepool and I ran five miles in twenty-eight minutes I came fourteenth out of 600 people. They couldn’t believe I wasn’t a pro runner!”

SB: Can I ask you about some of your key fights? Which one, to your mind, was the hardest?

MH: “Oh that’s easy. Mark Payne, twice. I fought Payne on two occasions. The first time, he hit me with everything. I was cut in the first thirty seconds. I really rate him. Then I fought him again and I won in seven rounds. You could see how I’d improved as a fighter. That was when I won the British title, in the rematch.”

SB: What did it mean to you, winning your first title?

MH: “Oh, it was unbelievable. Hartlepool needed it too. They’d been starved of champion boxers for a long time.”

SB: I know you have a loyal fan base. Do you fight for them, to give them a good fight every time out. Is that something important to you?

MH: “I have to fight for the crowd, they spur me on so much I can’t help it. I’ve got great fans, they’re my mates.”

SB: Do you get noticed all the time in Hartlepool?

MH: “Yes, everywhere I go. People always come up to me, it’s great. I don’t get big headed at all. You do get the odd idiot but I just ignore them . People are really good in general.”

SB: Did you have a hero that you looked up to when you first started boxing?

MH: “No, not really. Well, I suppose Alan Temple, an amateur star at out club. He won the ABA’s twice. As far as pros go, my mate, Ian Cooper. I used to watch him and see what he could do.”

SB: Who do you think the best boxers in the world are today?

MH: “Well, talking British, I’d say there are three boxers. Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe and Clinton Woods. I really respect Woods, he doesn’t get as much credit as he should. To have gone all the way like he has, to a world title, is very impressive. He should get paid more dues for that. I’ve known Ricky Hatton since I was fifteen years old. He was there at my last
fight, in Blackpool. We had a few beers together afterwards!”

SB: Do you have a prediction for Clinton’s fight on Saturday?

MH: “I just hope he wins. He’s the champion and it’s going to be hard to get that belt off him. I know Calzaghe says he wants Johnson to win so he can fight him, but I hope Woods wins and then beats Calzaghe. I have a lot of time for Woods.”

SB: How hurt were you in your fight with Esham Pickering?

MH: “Not at all. I got up from the knockdowns laughing, if you watch the video of the fight, you’ll see. He knocked me down but I knew where I was. The second knockdown hurt more but no, he never really phased me. What happened was I was leading off too much and he was countering. so I changed tactics and went to plan B. He was really tired at times and I was standing up before the ten second buzzer I wanted him so bad.”

SB: For my final question, where do you see yourself in twelve month’s time?

MH: “I was actually thinking about that when I was out running this morning, like in (the British comedy TV show) Only Fools and Horses, where they say, “This time next year, we’ll be millionaires!” (laughs) That’s where I’ll be! But no, seriously, by this time next year I hope to have at least fought for a world title – win, lose or draw. That’s the only belt left to get. And I’d also like to make some more defences of my European belt. It’s such a great title, especially for Hartlepool.

SB: Well, I wish you all the best with your career, and good luck for your fight in November.

MH: “Thanks a lot, cheers mate.”