The Wacko Wannabe RBR - Michael Hunter v Steve Molitor IBF Super Bantam

Okay, so the mundane discussion, debate and chitter-chatter of another week has passed, and we are back on track for a weekend of boxing. After the disappointing showing entertainment-wise by Floyd Mayweather in trouncing Carlos Baldomir last week, there are big things hoped for in the heavyweight battle between Calvin Brock and Wlad Klitschko. My poser is: Is this the first time that a man called Calvin has fought for a world title?

Anyhow, my own little warm-up for tomorrow evening's RBR is tonight's fight for the IBF Super Bantamweight title between English northerner Michael Hunter, and Canadian Steve Molitor. Both fighters are undefeated, and going in for the title last held by Mexican Israel Vasquez and defended against Armando Guerrero in May '05.

Michael Hunter - (26-0-1) The puncher from Hartlepool is best known for his all-action style, but going for a recognised world title like, this, you would expect the opposition to be even tougher than what he has already faced in winning and defending British, Commonwealth and European belts at super bantamweight. In his last fight in June, he breezed past Tuncay Kaya, in his third fight in four months, Ko'ing him in 9 rounds. I think that Hunter will prove a handful, even at world level, and could well cause Molitor a truckload of trouble with his attacking style. His only draw came on earlier in his career, in a non-title contest but after four fights for the European title, we'll see whether he is good enough to step up in class and fight at world level. In his home town of Hartlepool, County Durham, I wouldn't bet against him.

Steve Molitor - (22-0) - Okay, so considering Molitor has fought mostly in the USA and north America, coming over to England could well be a shock to the system. However, both of his previous visits, where he beat John Mackay, and claimed the Commonwealth Bantamweight strap against Nicky Booth in 2002 have been fruitful, claiming points victories both times. With eight KOs from 22 fights, he won't pack the power that Booth does, but I expect a good boxer, and a very tough challenge who will look to guts it out with Hunter. Another factor that could prove against him is the 13 months sionce his last bout, but at only 26, he should pick up the game pretty quickly.

Good luck mate good effort, i fancy Hunter to be a little to busy for him. Close foght though.

CC!

When does the fight start?

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Originally Posted by BoxingGorilla

CC!

When does the fight start?

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It's on in about 1/2 hour, 10pm UK time, so I think that is 5pm US East coast. Beyond that, I'm completely baffled by the time changes :p

Hartlepool is only 30 miles away from me... the PR for this fight has been shite... I didn't even know it was going to be this year... I'd have gotten a ticket if I'd known...

Ringwalks.

Toronto boy Steve Molitor walks into some rap music I can't put my forefinger on. It is a very partisan crowd, and he is being given the traditional british treatment by the local crowd. Looks like a packed out arena in Hartlepool, and if there is a Molitor fan in the house, I'd be pretty surprised!

Hunter on the other hand, is given a rapturous welcome, and gets the crowd going with a soccer fan ditty. Michael Hunter...we're having a laugh!" as the old soccer chant goes. He looks confident in his camo shorts, and the crowd are 100% behind him. He's two years older than Molitor, and with a tiny height and reach advantage, we'll see whether it is the boxer or the fighter that wins!

Round 1:

If your average crowd is worth a round, then Molitor is already at a three or four round disadvantage, they are going mad for the local lad! Very cagey starts, nothing connects in 30 secs. jab from Molitor finds gloves. Straight right connects for Hunter. Molitor throwing habs, but finding nothing. Good straight to the body, followed by a right hook by Molitor. Flurry by Hunter rocks Molitor on to the ropes. Right hook connects by Molitor.

Hunter edges this one in work rate so far.

Round 2:

Molitor's jabs are pawing, and finding little contact so far. Throwing a bit more early on, but the Englishman stays out of the way, and avoids it. Nice left by Molitor. Good right by Hunter, not flush, but good hit nonetheless. Hunter dominating physically, but Molitor wanting to stay on the back foot. Good right by Molitor, sucked into a flurry by Hunter though. Molitor complaining about hitting to the back of the head.

Tied Round IMO: 20-19 to Hunter

Round 3:

Ref has a word with both fighters. Swinging left for southpaw Molitor goes well wide. Hunter working with jabs, not getting into the brawl he likes. Showing a boxer's style not familiar from Hunter. Molitro hits with a right to the body. A left hook from Hunter catches his opponent flush. Molitor looking to the body. The canadian ducking in coming forward. Right by Michael Hunter only one that connects in a flurry by Hunter and Molitor.

Another Hunter round, just.

30-28

looking good so far i got 3000 on hunter ;) cc super good work bro

Round 4:

Cagey start again. Hunter ducking around Molitor's shots. Body shot connects from Molitor. Uppercut by Molitor catches him in the clinch. Hunter punches drive Molitor into the corner. Hunter starting to look for the tear-up he was looking for. Good left hooks by Hunter driving Molitor onto the ropes. A left shot by Molitor knocks Hunter down. Molitor attacking, rights and lefts flowing. hunter a little dazed.

Ties it up, 38-38.

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Originally Posted by superheavyrhun

Round 4:

Cagey start again. Hunter ducking around Molitor's shots. Body shot connects from Molitor. Uppercut by Molitor catches him in the clinch. Hunter punches drive Molitor into the corner. Hunter starting to look for the tear-up he was looking for. Good left hooks by Hunter driving Molitor onto the ropes. A left shot by Molitor knocks Hunter down. Molitor attacking, rights and lefts flowing. hunter a little dazed.

Ties it up, 38-38.

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ahh nooo come on hunter dont let me down

Round 5:

Can Hunter come out of this with a bit of character, and get the control back. Good punches rock Molitor back on the ropes. Right by hunter catches Molitor. The canadian is looking for the uppercut as Hunter comes in. Moiltor catches Hunter's body. Big left hook from Molitor, Hunter is doewn.

Hunter is not coming back. He's down, and stays down for the ten count. Massive left hand from Molitor put Hunter down, and it showed that Hunter may be better at Euro level than he is at world level. The big left from Molitor rocked Hunter backi, and another left put him down. Sad for the Hartlepool fans, but Molitor looked awesome after a cautious opening, took round 4 and 5 with ease. Sad to say, but will Hunter be the same, when he goes back to defending his Euro title?

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Originally Posted by superheavyrhun

Round 5:

Can Hunter come out of this with a bit of character, and get the control back. Good punches rock Molitor back on the ropes. Right by hunter catches Molitor. The canadian is looking for the uppercut as Hunter comes in. Moiltor catches Hunter's body. Big left hook from Molitor, Hunter is doewn.

Hunter is not coming back. He's down, and stays down for the ten count. Massive left hand from Molitor put Hunter down, and it showed that Hunter may be better at Euro level than he is at world level. The big left from Molitor rocked Hunter backi, and another left put him down. Sad for the Hartlepool fans, but Molitor looked awesome after a cautious opening, took round 4 and 5 with ease. Sad to say, but will Hunter be the same, when he goes back to defending his Euro title?

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nice rbr disappointed with hunter :(

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Originally Posted by superheavyrhun

Round 5:

Can Hunter come out of this with a bit of character, and get the control back. Good punches rock Molitor back on the ropes. Right by hunter catches Molitor. The canadian is looking for the uppercut as Hunter comes in. Moiltor catches Hunter's body. Big left hook from Molitor, Hunter is doewn.

Hunter is not coming back. He's down, and stays down for the ten count. Massive left hand from Molitor put Hunter down, and it showed that Hunter may be better at Euro level than he is at world level. The big left from Molitor rocked Hunter backi, and another left put him down. Sad for the Hartlepool fans, but Molitor looked awesome after a cautious opening, took round 4 and 5 with ease. Sad to say, but will Hunter be the same, when he goes back to defending his Euro title?

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Shame, but has he still got the Europen Belt?? I thought that is given up when he goes for a World Shot?

Ah well, Hunter shows that maybe European glory is as much as he can hope for. But for Steve Molitor, he has shown a great amount of class tonight, and knocking out the brit in 5 is a superb achievement on his part.

Quotes:

Steve Molitor:

"I have been waiting for this moment for 17 years.He did well, came out boxing, and showed that he can box with me. This is the most hostile boxing territory that I've ever been in. I'm very much pleased with my fight tonight."

Michael Hunter:

"He's been world class for four years, and I've only been for a year. He was a very good fighter, and he showed his quality tongiht . I'm very disappointing not to win this for Barry Hearn. It has been a tremendous year for me, and I'm sorry I couldn't win it for the people who turned out for me tonight."

That was a fierce shot which did him. Molitors record never suggested he could do that, I bet Hunter got a big shock. You could see Molitor had a bit of class about him even in the couple of rounds that Hunter might have just edged

Hard lines.

Good win. I had Molitor

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Shame, but has he still got the Europen Belt?? I thought that is given up when he goes for a World Shot?

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I wasn't aware that he had given up that title to take on the world shot, and considering that he has been pretty busy earlier in the year, I don't see that it would have made that much sense for him to give up that belt. Anyhow, I look forward to see him back in again, after his first loss, so we can wait and see. Sorry Tam, I know you were all in on Hunter in the Killersheep sportsbook, but he was outclassed here tonight by Steve Molitor.

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Good win. I had Molitor

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Now that I look at the fight, and have a good look at Molitor, I wish that I did too ;) Hunter had plenty of heart, but Molitor is a classy operator, and has so much to offer if other fighters in the division.

According to sky sports, in reply to Skel's previous query, they say he still has his Commonwealth belt, so that suggests that he did give up hie European belt in order to take this fight.

Elsewhere on the bill:

Kevin Anderson v Anthony Guillet

Rd 1-4

With a win here, Commonwealth Welterweight title holder Anderson managed to set up a bout with British and Commonwealth tile holder Eamonn Magee. Anderson is 23, though at Welterweight, his early punches looked a little slappy, though digged in some good uppercuts. Good body shots, right and left by Anderson. Guillet finding little more than gloves with his punches. Guillet's face reddening as round 2 goes on. He's a fast puncher, but jack-s**t behind it. Anderson working well to the body. Rd 3. Anderson's punches tight andon the inside. Very compact fighter. Guillet throwing ones and tws, no good flurries. Left to the body by Anderson puts Guillet's ass on the floor in 4. Guillet ties up, and keeps guard high for rest of the round.

Anderson v Guillet

Rds 5-8

Anderson is cruising really, not being overly tested by this Frenchman. Anderson's punching much more hurtful. Guillet just running, duckingand dodging, throwing just enough to show that he is still in the fight. Good right knocks Guillet's head back. Doing enough to win each round, but not looking for a KO. Guillet ends up red-faced, if only by volume of punches, but he maintains an unbeaten record with an easy win over the Frenchman. Guillet is resilient, but does little more than hold his hands over his head, and sweat. Anderson looks for KO, but Guillet's guard is good. An easy win for Anderson.

This about does it for me. I'm going to walk four yards to the couch and fall asleep, at least that's the plan.

Adieu, and farewell.

:coolclick: on the coverage.

Nice...a bit to sober & legible for me...but a job well done all the same. ;D :drunks:

CC for the coverage bro!

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

:coolclick: on the coverage.

Nice...a bit to sober & legible for me...but a job well done all the same. ;D :drunks:

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Dude, if they hadcall of the fights t 1am instead of 10om then you would have yourself a proper DRBR but still, I'm enjoying my rum and coke, and if I'm honest, I can't really see to well at the television. If oyu want to know why there is no coverage of the later bouts on SS!, then th honest answer is that I am not ocmpetent to type ay that sdort of speed a nd at that sort of level. Wack son, you are a legend, and if I don't already owe you a CC, then if you can report a Brock victory by UD then you cna have a month's worth of CC's. Anyhow, I need to pass out before the TV, so goodnight folks.

foooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook! hunter has fooked it for me i went all in on the bastard lol! well that counts me out :( bastard!

CC for the round by rounds ;)

Hunter being knocked down like that from a guy who aint known for his power aint a good sign but saying that Molitor looked very good and they said they had been working on his power... dont know if it was just me but it gave me the same feeling as when Winky Wright was fighting over here in his early days and was beating up all our great prospects.

good for canada though as i cant think of many great canadian boxers in the past... maybe it will turn out that Molitor was born in london and fight as a UK fighter from now on ;D