In a recent in-depth interview with Boxing Social, American heavyweight contender Michael Hunter expressed his eagerness to get back in the ring and put himself back in the mix among top heavyweight fighters.
The heavyweight boxing scene is in a constant state of flux, and Hunter believes his style and boxing IQ are enough to match any of the current top names, including Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua.
Hunter has been inactive for some time and has his sights set on getting back into the ring to regain his rankings. “I’ve been training for quite some time… I haven’t really been in there and got my rounds in. This will be my actual, a real actual fight,” he said, referring to his upcoming fight against Donnie Palmer.
One of the key points of contention during the interview was Hunter’s thoughts on Tyson Fury’s recent actions and decision-making in the heavyweight division. The former cruiserweight champion implied that Fury had been ducking Oleksandr Usyk.
“I think we see a perfect example when it comes to Usyk and Tyson Fury,” Hunter explained. “Tyson kind of dodged that and didn’t make the fight happen. If he was the best in the world, it would be very easy to fight him. He would be the A-side and all of that, so he had all the marbles in his hand and he still didn’t take the fight.”
Hunter stated his readiness to face the best, adding that inconsistency has been a significant issue among the top heavyweights. He emphasized his desire to demonstrate his abilities and compete at the highest level.
The American fighter also touched on his professional relationship with Eddie Hearn, stating his openness to fight one of Hearn’s heavyweights if offered under the right conditions. Hunter had previously turned down an eliminator against Filip Hrgović, which frustrated Hearn. However, Hunter cleared the air, saying it was bad business rather than bad blood.
Hunter maintains a strong desire to compete against top-tier competition. When it comes to challenging opponents, he believes the only real challenge is himself. “It’s usually me against me in any way at the end of the day,” he said.
In closing, he stated that his specialty is “drowning somebody and taking them into deep waters.” This is a message Hunter hopes will resonate with his competition. His ambition is clear, and he appears ready to rise to the occasion and challenge the best in the heavyweight division.
