Michael Hunter is one of my new favourite fighters...

LOL... Decent ? Past Usyk (against who he was frankly embarrassed) all his opponents have been a little "shady" to say the least... Kiladze been in with Joyce & Kownacki & Hunter did very well to stop him in 5 like Joyce. Bakole is just a prospect but he was highly regarded until Hunter ko’d him & Ustinov was coming of a WBA regular title fight. Bakole & Ustinov brought Hunter in as an opponent they were supposed to beat. I don’t consider anything shady as I’m not one of these guys that thinks everyone is a bum after a couple losses. I don’t judge fighters looking at boxingrec. I actually take the time to watch all levels of HWs. Not just the name guys. I watch all HW fighters rather they are contenders or trialhorses.

He's had a good 2018 for himself. Prepared to step in late and he's got his rewards from it.

He's already beat a few decent HWs. He might as well see how far he can go. No money in the CW division outside Europe. LOL... Decent ? Past Usyk (against who he was frankly embarrassed) all his opponents have been a little "shady" to say the least...

I agree but if he scores a few more big wins & moves up the rankings why would he go back down? Both Chris Byrd & Eddie Chambers tried it & they lost. Roy Jones (Only 1 fight) was never the same after the John Ruiz fight. Plenty of CWs have moved up & had success at HW but name one that went from HW to CW & had success... Because his stamina sucks and he's carrying extra weight that is only fat

Was really hoping to see Hunter vs Takam on the 22nd card. If Hunter can get an easy fight for that USBA title in early 2019 I hope he takes it and then moves on. I still think a rematch with Usyk, for his first fight at HW would serve a good purpose for both guys I wouldn't mind seeing him fight for the USBA title & maybe defend it once or twice. A few more fights at HW would do him good. Fedosov & Kauffman would be my choices but Zhelei is the USBA #1 so he could be in the mix too. As for Usyk that might slow down his momentum because I'm not sure if he could beat him at this point.

He should fight guys at heavy until the tournament is over I agree but if he scores a few more big wins & moves up the rankings why would he go back down? Both Chris Byrd & Eddie Chambers tried it & they lost. Roy Jones (Only 1 fight) was never the same after the John Ruiz fight. Plenty of CWs have moved up & had success at HW but name one that went from HW to CW & had success...

There is a couple more rounds if I have not mistaken so that wouldn't be anytime soon plus he has 2 regional belts already with the IBO & WBA so he is already in their top 15. He is gunning for the IBF regional USBA title his father once held so if he goes that route he would fight for the vacant belt against Zhelei, Kauffman, Hanks, Alfonso or Fedosov who are all rated in the USBA top 6 including himself at #2. If he wins that title he is in the IBF top 15 as well. I got no problems with him going the regional belt route to gain experience against C+ level opponents or other prospects. He should fight guys at heavy until the tournament is over

I remember Hunter winning like 4 rounds against Usyk, took the first three then one of the rest.

Was really hoping to see Hunter vs Takam on the 22nd card. If Hunter can get an easy fight for that USBA title in early 2019 I hope he takes it and then moves on. I still think a rematch with Usyk, for his first fight at HW would serve a good purpose for both guys

Might be money in a fight with the season two winner. Looking like Hunter has more of a following in Europe than in the states right now anyway. There is a couple more rounds if I have not mistaken so that wouldn't be anytime soon plus he has 2 regional belts already with the IBO & WBA so he is already in their top 15. He is gunning for the IBF regional USBA title his father once held so if he goes that route he would fight for the vacant belt against Zhelei, Kauffman, Hanks, Alfonso or Fedosov who are all rated in the USBA top 6 including himself at #2. If he wins that title he is in the IBF top 15 as well. I got no problems with him going the regional belt route to gain experience against C+ level opponents or other prospects.

He's already beat a few decent HWs. He might as well see how far he can go. No money in the CW division outside Europe. Might be money in a fight with the season two winner. Looking like Hunter has more of a following in Europe than in the states right now anyway.

I like Michael Hunter as well but I think he'd do better to go back down to Cruiserweight. After Usyk gives up his belts maybe he can fight for one of the vacant titles. He's already beat a few decent HWs. He might as well see how far he can go. No money in the CW division outside Europe.

I like Michael Hunter as well but I think he'd do better to go back down to Cruiserweight. After Usyk gives up his belts maybe he can fight for one of the vacant titles.

I agree with the not much hope of winning a title but what would you rather do win a CW title with little fanfare & no money or fight for bigger purses in the HW division? I’d take the money. Kevin Johnson is making a solid living being a travelling journeyman. I suppose it’s that age old question “legacy or money”? I like Hunter though, he seems a good kid so I wish him success in wherever he fights.

I’m not disputing there is far more financial potential at HW. But Hunter isn’t big enough to able to compete with Fury, Wilder, AJ so he will have virtually no chance of winning a HW title. If he wants to win a title he’ll have to drop back to CW I agree with the not much hope of winning a title but what would you rather do win a CW title with little fanfare & no money or fight for bigger purses in the HW division? I’d take the money. Kevin Johnson is making a solid living being a travelling journeyman.

It is no secret that the real money is at HW. I'm sure he would has considered staying at CW but that division is non-existent in the US. The money is at HW & he has a lot more options there. Kiladze, Bakole & Ustinov are 3 pretty good wins to get back into the HW mix. Kiladze took Kownacki 6 rounds & landed a lot of shots. Joyce overpowered him in 5 & Hunter stopped him in 5 too. He totally kicked Ustinov's ass. Let's not forget Ustinov's last fight was with Charr for the WBA regular title & it went 12 rounds. Charr did drop Ustinov at one point but he did not beat him as bad as Hunter did. It was a complete shutout on all 3 judges cards going into the 9th. There really is nothing down at CW for Hunter considering all the top guys are currently in the WSB tourney. There is no money there for him at the moment & he just beat Bakole & Ustinov which proves he belongs in the HW division. Even if he doesn't win a world title there are big fights & money to be made. I’m not disputing there is far more financial potential at HW. But Hunter isn’t big enough to able to compete with Fury, Wilder, AJ so he will have virtually no chance of winning a HW title. If he wants to win a title he’ll have to drop back to CW

Exactly my opinion, he doesn’t have the size or power to compete with the top guys at HW. With Usyk moving up, the CW division is wide open, Hunter would be right in the mix, if he moved back down It is no secret that the real money is at HW. I'm sure he would has considered staying at CW but that division is non-existent in the US. The money is at HW & he has a lot more options there. Kiladze, Bakole & Ustinov are 3 pretty good wins to get back into the HW mix. Kiladze took Kownacki 6 rounds & landed a lot of shots. Joyce overpowered him in 5 & Hunter stopped him in 5 too. He totally kicked Ustinov's ass. Let's not forget Ustinov's last fight was with Charr for the WBA regular title & it went 12 rounds. Charr did drop Ustinov at one point but he did not beat him as bad as Hunter did. It was a complete shutout on all 3 judges cards going into the 9th. There really is nothing down at CW for Hunter considering all the top guys are currently in the WSB tourney. There is no money there for him at the moment & he just beat Bakole & Ustinov which proves he belongs in the HW division. Even if he doesn't win a world title there are big fights & money to be made.

Hearn offered him Takam but Hunter wanted more time for that. He's good and can have a fun run at heavy but he'll always be too small for the top guys. He could make real noise at cruiser if he went back. Exactly my opinion, he doesn’t have the size or power to compete with the top guys at HW. With Usyk moving up, the CW division is wide open, Hunter would be right in the mix, if he moved back down

Yeah 213 for Ustinov but he kicked his ass!!!!! He gave up 40lbs to Bakole & took his best shots & scored the late KO. Bakole is a prospect & Ustinov is 41 so I do take that into consideration but so far so good. Yeah.. like you say Ustinov is over the hill and never really had much apart from his size anyway (though his size was a test in itself)and Bakole hadn't really been tested. Honestly much of why I think Hunter is a quality fighter is what he showed in losing to Usyk. Now that's one steep learning curve right there - to come back from the L and do what he's done since shows me he could go far, though I still think he'll run into the size problem against the better Heavies... he's good, but maybe not good enough to overcome that. Shit, I ain't even sure Usyk's gonna have enough for the big boys.

Damn fine fighter but undersized for HW I think. Yeah 213 for Ustinov but he kicked his ass!!!!! He gave up 40lbs to Bakole & took his best shots & scored the late KO. Bakole is a prospect & Ustinov is 41 so I do take that into consideration but so far so good.