Hughie Fury vs. Michael Hunter | Sky Sports - 29 October 2022 (POSTPONED)

[Ruthless-RKO]

Still a classic interview

I do feel for Meaty Mick though. He took a big cash gamble in a deserted MEN Arena and thought it had paid off with a belt. And that's after Froch left him and Wazza was moving in on Tyson. Shades of alimony.

Yeh. He did help put a lot of boxers on the map.

A lot of them, well majority went on to sign for Big promotions and became world champions.

[Coco]

Still a classic interview

I do feel for Meaty Mick though. He took a big cash gamble in a deserted MEN Arena and thought it had paid off with a belt. And that's after Froch left him and Wazza was moving in on Tyson. Shades of alimony.

Yeh. He did help put a lot of boxers on the map.

A lot of them, well majority went on to sign for Big promotions and became world champions.

I'm not sure he put any on the map but some good fighters started their careers with him

[Ruthless-RKO]

This has been confirmed WBA eliminator.

[maverick23]

This has been confirmed WBA eliminator.

They don’t even have a confirmed location for it yet!

[Ruthless-RKO]

It's been signed thought, date confirmed.

It's in just over 30 days..

Wonder why no one books arena's in advance anymore

[Ruthless-RKO]

[jimmystone]

I take it this is the undercard for Ricky's exhibition fight?

[Ruthless-RKO]

AO Arena.

[maverick23]

AO Arena.

Clever I think.

Hatton will actually have some people to fight in front of and they’ll split the cost of the arena.

By the sound of things the Hatton exhibition doesn’t have a broadcaster yet so Sky may also fancy that depending on price.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Heavyweight contenders Hughie Fury and Michael Hunter will face off in a final WBA world title eliminator on Saturday July 2nd at the AO Arena Manchester, live and exclusively on Sky Sports.

The WBA has ordered that the winner of Fury vs Hunter will go on to challenge the winner of the upcoming June 11 WBA world heavyweight title fight between defending world champion Trevor Bryan and British contender Daniel Dubois.

Manchester giant Fury and American dangerman Hunter will put everything on the line in this high-stakes crossroads fight. With the world title in sight for the victor, fireworks are guaranteed.

Fury (26-3-0, 15 KO’s), ranked at #4 in the WBA, is fired up for his clash with Hunter and he’s been focused on a second world shot since September 2017 when his challenge for the WBO World Title, at just 23-years-old, ended in a controversial points loss to Joe Parker.

Fury, managed by Mick Hennessy, was in top form last October in Newcastle when he forced rugged rival Christian Hammer to retire on his stool after five rounds. Until then Fury was at his best, landing accurate jabs and uppercuts and forcing Hammer’s first stoppage loss since his 2015 defeat by Hughie’s cousin Tyson Fury.

Fury, still just 27, is on an unbeaten three fight run with victories over Hammer, Mariusz Wach and Pavel Sour since his points loss to heavy hitter Povetkin in August 2019.

“I take the fights everyone avoids. Michael Hunter has fought the best and is up there with the best. These are the fights I want, to show who is the best fighter out there. I’m looking forward to this challenge. I believe I’m one of the best fighters in the world and this is another big fight to prove I stand with the top three in the world heavyweight division," said Fury.

WBA #2 rated Hunter (20-1-2, 14 KO’s) has been swerved by many of the big names in the division and is targeting his first world heavyweight title shot after a points loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2017 for the WBO cruiserweight title. He will be aiming to cause a big upset in defeating Fury.

Known as the ‘Bounty’, Michael’s father Mike was a former fringe heavyweight contender in the 80s and 90s who fought some of the big names of the era including Buster Mathis Jr., Tyrell Biggs and Frans Botha.

He represented America in the London 2012 Olympics and turned pro shortly after starting out in the cruiserweight ranks and quickly put together an undefeated run before challenging Usyk.

To highlight the serious threat that Hunter presents to Fury, Hunter caused a massive upset on his last visit to Britain in October 2019 when he stopped the unbeaten prospect Martin Bakole in the 10th round of a thrilling fight, the referee intervening to wave the fight off when Bakole was defenceless under a flurry of heavy blows .

Since then Hunter has gone unbeaten in seven fights, including a December 2019 draw with Povetkin in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, which he believes should rightly have been a decision win in his favour.

“We’re excited to return to Manchester and the iconic AO Arena Manchester for a fight which has everything on the line. Hughie Fury has patiently built his way back to world title contention and has overcome big challenges along the way. This is another big test against one of the most avoided fighters in the division.” said BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom.

“Hughie is only just about to come into his prime and so if he can get past Michael then he puts himself unquestionably in the mix for world titles in the coming months and years. Michael will also believe this is the chance he is waiting for, and with such a big opportunity on the line for the winner, both fighters will be giving everything.’

Adam Smith, Sky Sports Head of Boxing Development Adam Smith, said, “What a fabulous match up in the blue ribbon division as Hughie Fury has a serious heavyweight test against the excellent Michael Hunter - whose talent we know well on Sky! Can Hughie now emerge from the shadows to produce a career-best performance or will the classy and avoided American gatecrash the world scene?”

[Ruthless-RKO]

BOXXER: Fury v Hunter, headlines a stellar card presented by BOXXER in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.

A ticket for the BOXXER event will grant access to AO Manchester Arena from 17:30 for the duration of the evening. Tickets will subsequently grant free access to the Hatton v Barrera show by Europa Concerts which will begin after BOXXER’s event has concluded.

To register for tickets go to Boxxer.com

[Spud]

Fury pts

[Coco]

Short of the very top level, Hughie is a difficult guy to beat. For me he def beat Parker

With his man strength the world is his lobster....

[margaret thatcher]

keep hughie and his stinky style away from guys with p names, and he should be okay

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hatton’s exhibition will take place after he Fury-Hunter.

I don’t think it will be on Sky.

Anyone that purchases tickets for Fury-Hunter will be able to watch the exhibition as well.

[KiwiRider]

Short of the very top level, Hughie is a difficult guy to beat. For me he def beat Parker

With his man strength the world is his lobster....

The judges scored it for the aggressor, if he only threw a couple more right hands per round, he would have won that fight wide.

[DrDuke]

Short of the very top level, Hughie is a difficult guy to beat. For me he def beat Parker

With his man strength the world is his lobster....

I saw Parker winning pretty clearly there. Hughie is indeed short of the top level. Every time he steps up, he fails. The question is, if Hunter belongs that level today.

[Frostieballs]

I do feel for Meaty Mick though. He took a big cash gamble in a deserted MEN Arena and thought it had paid off with a belt. And that's after Froch left him and Wazza was moving in on Tyson. Shades of alimony.

Yeh. He did help put a lot of boxers on the map.

A lot of them, well majority went on to sign for Big promotions and became world champions.

I'm not sure he put any on the map but some good fighters started their careers with him

I’m biased, but I think that’s a little harsh.

I guess it depends on your definition on putting them on the map.

He took Froch to a world title, gave him the platform to explode from.

Same for Fury.

Got Witter the world title he deserved.

Manoeuvred Eastman into a world title shot that got him briefly on the back pages.

That’s a decent roster!

[garethhop]

I think he did a good job with Degale although some may disagree. Degale could easily have disappeared after the Groves loss then his poor performance straight after. He kept him relevant and also build CEJr.

[maverick23]

I think he did a good job with Degale although some may disagree. Degale could easily have disappeared after the Groves loss then his poor performance straight after. He kept him relevant and also build CEJr.

I don’t think Mick did a bad job with Degale but I don’t think he did a particularly good job either. 3 fights at Bluewater, out in Hull, out in Canada and then Bristol against fairly average opposition isn’t going to do much to help a fighter sell tickets. This was after headlining a PPV at the O2 in a close fight.

He did keep Degale fairly active though which is never a bad thing but I think Mick struggled to get people to care about his fighters even if 1m+ (or we’ll over that when he had airtime on ITV) were watching them. Did he ever sell out an arena show? Crazy if not considering the roster of fighters he’s had.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Who was Mick's biggest success?

[maverick23]

Who was Mick's biggest success?

Tyson I think but even Tyson left him and they ended up with the lawyers involved.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Who was Mick's biggest success?

Tyson I think but even Tyson left him and they ended up with the lawyers involved.

He won the world title whilst with Mick as well.

[maverick23]

Who was Mick's biggest success?

Tyson I think but even Tyson left him and they ended up with the lawyers involved.

He won the world title whilst with Mick as well.

Yep but even his last few fights with Mick were on shows that Mick wasn’t promoting. I always find that strange - surely it’s just better financially to work directly with the main show promoter.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tyson I think but even Tyson left him and they ended up with the lawyers involved.

He won the world title whilst with Mick as well.

Yep but even his last few fights with Mick were on shows that Mick wasn’t promoting. I always find that strange - surely it’s just better financially to work directly with the main show promoter.

Yeh, was weird.

Fury is very giving person. He wants everyone involved.

He did have 3 trainers in the first Wilder fight after all.