Bounty Hunter Aims Guns At Povetkin
By Henry Walter
US heavyweight contender Michael “The Bounty” Hunter, 19-1 (12 KOs), has signed to face the highly rated, former WBA Champion, Alexander Povetkin in Saudi Arabia.
The fight will be the chief support for the highly anticipated rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz and the winners of both fights may well end up meeting next.
The fight provides a huge opportunity for Hunter to gatecrash the very top of the division. The American is on a fantastic run at heavyweight, having moved up in 2018 after a failed world title challenge to the gifted Oleksandr Usyk at cruiserweight.
Six wins, four by knockout, have seen Hunter earn the big fight with Povetkin. Notable victories over formally unbeaten contenders Martin Bakole and Segey Kuzmin were both achieved with seeming ease but Povetkin represents another significant step up.
The Russian gave a good account of himself in world title shots against Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua and holds a win over former champion Hasim Rahman. He always comes to fight and his recent win over Hughie Fury proves he is still very dangerous, even at forty years of age.
Hunter has a formidable skill set and is armed with considerable power but usually gives up at least twenty pounds to his heavyweight rivals and will give away significantly more to Povetkin.
Povetkin is a former Olympic gold medalist and has only lost previously when challenging for legitimate world title honours. If Hunter can beat him it will prove that he belongs amongst the very best at heavyweight and his calls for a world title shot will be very hard to ignore.
So can Hunter win? Povetkin will be his stiffest test to date, the Usyk fight aside, but Hunter has shown he is capable of quite exceptional performances in the past.
Both men will likely have their moments and Povetkin’s power will always be a danger, however Hunter has the ability to win on points if he boxes to his best and for me that is the most likely outcome.
FightPost: Boxing & MMA News 