Hunter Eyes Up Fight With Povetkin

Hunter Eyes Up Fight With Povetkin

By Henry Walter

American heavyweight contender Michael “The Bounty” Hunter grabbed another victory over a highly rated prospect on Saturday evening.

Russia’s Sergey Kuzmin, 15-0 (11 KOs) was supposed to provide a stiff test in a fight most viewed as a 50-50 affair going in but Hunter produced an excellent performance to dominate the twelve round bout, capturing Kuzmin’s WBA Intercontinental belt in the process.

Kuzmin looked notably bigger than the former cruiserweight Hunter as the fight began but quickly found problems adjusting to the American’s hand speed.

Hunter’s snake like right hand consistently found it’s way though Kuzmin’s guard as early as the opening round.

By the fifth round Hunter was beginning to walk away with the fight and he emphasised his dominance with a knockdown of Kuzmin, courtesy of a well timed left hook.

As the fight went into the later rounds Kuzmin, who enjoyed a thirty-six pound weight advantage, tightened his guard and attempted to walk Hunter down but the American’s superior footwork and slick counters saw him frustrated.

The decision, 117-110 on all three cards, was never in doubt and marked Hunter’s sixth straight win at heavyweight, as he put the first dent in Kuzmin’s previously undefeated ledger.

Hunter’s sole loss remains a close decision setback to former cruiserweight world champion and pound for pound ranked Oleksandr Usyk in 2017.

Now ranked firmly in the heavyweight top twenty and with several wins over good prospects, Hunter could well find himself facing the elite at heavyweight very soon.

After his Madison Square Garden win Hunter called out former Olympic gold medalist Alexander Povetkin and if that fight can be made it would be a really interesting fight. But going on recent form it would be hard not to make Hunter the favourite.