Michael Hunter v Hughie Fury

[Master]

Michael Hunter lands bigger payday than Hughie Fury for WBA heavyweight title eliminator

Michael Hunter is set to land a bigger purse than Hughie Fury when the two heavyweights collide in a WBA world title eliminator in Manchester on July 2. Although a venue is still to be confirmed, Express Sport understands both fighters have now signed the fight contracts with an announcement expected imminently.

The bout will be promoted by BOXXER's Ben Shalom, headlining a stacked card that will be broadcasted live on Sky Sports as the pair seek to move closer towards world honours.

Despite being the away fighter, Hunter is considered the A-side and will net close to £440,000 ($550,000) from his lucrative purse, per sources.

The Bounty Hunter, who is a free agent following his split from Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing in the summer of 2020, has also received assurances of a potential promotional contract with BOXXER - should he reign supreme.

Yet Hunter's purse is likely to cause a stir with 27-year-old Fury, the younger cousin of WBC and Ring Magazine World Champion Tyson Fury, set to earn less than his opponent.

Nonetheless, both fighters can force their way into world title reckoning with victory and the winner is set to face whoever prevails from Daniel Dubois' WBA interim title fight with Trevor Bryan in Miami on June 11.

Hunter, 21-1-2, has previously boxed on English shores when he successfully stopped Martin Bakole in October 2018 at York Hall.

The 33-year-old's career has undeniably stagnated since his split from Matchroom, however, and he will have to raise the bar following a disappointing showing last time out in his split decision draw with Jerry Forrest in December when he was captured vomiting in between rounds.

Having previously shared the ring with pound-for-pound great Oleksandr Usyk in 2017, Hunter is not short of big-fight experience and was unfortunate not to come out on top in a pulsating draw with Alexander Povetkin on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Fury, 26-3, is out to continue his three-fight winning streak following his underwhelming defeat to the now-retired Russian veteran Povetkin in August 2019.

The Manchester fighter has struggled to prove he belongs at world level having also previously faced setbacks against Joseph Parker and Kubrat Pulev earlier in his career.

Shalom confirmed two weeks ago that terms had been agreed between the two fighters but the deal has now been formalised.

"That's an unbelievable fight," he told Boxing Social. "It's a 50/50 fight on paper and Fury is ready for that, he's been waiting for it.

"He was meant to fight Robert Helenius, that was what was ordered but Helenius didn't take it in the end.

"Michael Hunter is one of those fighters that we all know how good he is and he's never really reached the heights that we thought he could.

"Looking forward to that one in early July, it's a massive moment for Hughie."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...08e945ee7e8885

[TIC]

hughie got this. mike looked like shit last out

[Master]

Michael Hunter has eyes for not one Fury but two as he prepares to face Hughie in view of pursuing his older cousin Tyson's world title belts.

The 33-year-old will face the younger member of the Fury family in London on July 2, live on Sky Sports, as the pair fight for a shot at the WBA regular belt against the winner of defending champion Trevor Bryan and Britain's No 1-ranked contender Daniel Dubois in June.

Hunter enters 20(14)-1-2 on the back of a lacklustre draw against Jerry Forrest last December, while Fury is back in the ring for the first time since beating Christian Hammer in October to improve his record to 26(15)-3.

Fury to face Hunter in world title eliminator on Sky
"He just can't punch," Hunter said of Fury, speaking to Sky Sports. "He's good, I think he's a decent boxer, he's got some decent skills, he's tall, he's long, he comes from the Fury family.

"The best thing we can say is he comes from a Fury family, a fighting family. That's the best thing I can see.

"I don't think he's a great puncher, when you say technical boxer that's what I see, it means he's just not a puncher."

For Fury it beckons as another step towards a long-awaited second world title challenge five years on from missing out on the WBO heavyweight crown at the hands of defeat to Joseph Parker.

The 27-year-old suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Alexander Povetkin in August 2019 before responding with a third-round stoppage of Pavel Sour and a decision win against Mariusz Wach prior to taking out Hammer.

Hunter began his career with a 12-fight win streak after turning professional until he was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO cruiserweight title. He went on to stop British hope Martin Bakole in October 2018 before holding Alexander Povetkin to a draw in December 2019.

"I'm excited to be over in England and display my skills," Hunter added.

"We're going to knock them [the Furys] down one by one, Hughie first.

"He's in the way, I'm going for the belts and anyone in my way I've got to run them over.

"We know he can fight. Does he have the skills and determination to compete with me? I don't think so. Only one way to find out."

What comes of Tyson Fury's heavyweight titles remains to be seen as the 'Gypsy King' remains insistent he is retired following his sixth-round knockout win over Dillian Whyte at Wembley.

Hughie Fury will take on heavyweight rival Michael Hunter in a final world-title eliminator at the AO Arena Manchester on July 2, live on Sky Sports.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...d0a28b21f1651d

[Spicoli]

Pretty decent match up style wise. Hopefully it doesn't turn ugly. Hunter runs a little deeper I think he'll raise his game but he needs to stop loading up.

[TIC]

Pretty decent match up style wise. Hopefully it doesn't turn ugly. Hunter runs a little deeper I think he'll raise his game but he needs to stop loading up.

i thought michael lost to jerry

[Spicoli]

Pretty decent match up style wise. Hopefully it doesn't turn ugly. Hunter runs a little deeper I think he'll raise his game but he needs to stop loading up.

i thought michael lost to jerry

Haven't seen it need to check it out see if an off night or more permanent. Maybe Forrest retained some memory of their 1st fight to work with but hard to say.