Michael Hunter (born 5 May 1978) is a British

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...

who competed from 2000 to 2012. He challenged once for the vacant

IBF The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) which sanctions professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Counci ...

super bantamweight Super bantamweight, also known as junior featherweight, is a weight class in professional boxing, contested from and up to . There were attempts by boxing promoters in the 1920s to establish this weight class, but few sanctioning organizations or ...

title in 2006. At regional level, he held the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

super bantamweight title from 2004 to 2005; the Commonwealth super bantamweight title in 2005; and the

EBU The European Broadcasting Union (EBU; french: Union européenne de radio-télévision, links=no, UER) is an alliance of public service media organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area or who are members of the Co ...

European super bantamweight title from 2005 to 2006.

Amateur career

He won the 1997

Amateur Boxing Association England Boxing, known until 2013 as the Amateur Boxing Association of England, is the Sports governing body, governing body of amateur boxing clubs in England. There are separate organisations for Scotland and Wales with boxing in Northern Irela ...

British flyweight title and 1999 bantamweight title, when boxing out of the Hartlepool Boys Welfare ABC.

Professional career

He won his British title against Mark Payne in April 2004, before that landing Northern Area (W John Barnes) and WBF World Title (W Frankie De Milo) honours. He made two British title defences before meeting

Esham Pickering Esham Pickering (born 7 August 1976) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2014. He challenged once for the WBO bantamweight title in 2000. At regional level, he held the British super bantamweight title twice betwe ...

in October 2005. In a classic encounter for the European, Commonwealth and British titles, Hunter was knocked down twice before rallying to punch Pickering's head in en route to a majority decision victory. He made three quick European title defences - all stoppage wins - before he was beaten for the first time by Steve Molitor on 10 November 2006 by 5th-round KO for the IBF Super Bantamweight Title. Hunter regrouped and defeated Ben Odamattey on points in March 2007. He lost to

Jason Booth Jason Booth (born 7 November 1977) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2016. He held the IBO super-flyweight title from 2003 to 2004, and challenged once for the IBF super bantamweight title in 2010. At regional level ...

for his old British super-bantamweight belt in Sunderland in October 2009, and ended his career with a points win over Sid Razak at his beloved Borough Hall in 2012. Hunter is regarded by many as the best boxer - and third best dancer - ever to come out of the fighting town of Hartlepool, and he was wildly popular during a brilliant career under the watch of coach Neil Fannan and promoter Dave Garside.

References

Industry profile of Michael Hunter
* 1978 births Living people English male boxers Sportspeople from Hartlepool People educated at English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College Super-bantamweight boxers {{England-boxing-bio-stub