Mike Hunter (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Mike Hunter was an American
boxer
who won the NABF Heavyweight title.
, Tyrell Biggs
, Oliver McCall
, Jimmy Thunder
, and Alexander Zolkin. During this long respectable run of results he lost a highly criticized points decision to fellow contender and future world champion Francois Botha
, after dropping Botha in the first round.
Although he was a very talented fighter and had a promising run during the 90s, he largely squandered his talent. By the mid-1990s, drug problems had begun to catch up to Hunter, evident to all after his victory over Buster Mathis, Jr., which was turned to a No-Contest following a positive drug test.
Hunter would lose three fights in the last year and a half of his career, before retiring following a highly bizarre loss to Danish Heavyweight Brian Nielsen for the IB0 version of the heavyweight title. Handling Nielsen with relative ease, Hunter became the latest of a series of washed up 'name' American boxers to fight Nielsen and suddenly and inexplicably pull out with a sudden 'injury'. Hunter's ham acting indicated he had an arm injury and elected not to continue after the fifth round. He never boxed again.
became US amateur champ in 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who won the NABF Heavyweight title.
Professional career
Known as "The Bounty Hunter", Hunter was a colourful and erratic Heavyweight fringe contender during the early-to-mid 1990s, and was known for his unique boxing style, boxing skills, and good defense. Hunter's boxing career began in Maryland, after a seven-year stint in prison for armed robbery. Hunter's skills caught the attention of actor James Caan, who would manage Hunter for three years, before selling his contract to Bill Slayton. Hunter first became ranked by the major sanctioning bodies in 1990, and would defeat many notable boxers like Dwight Qawi, Pinklon ThomasPinklon Thomas
Pinklon Thomas is a retired heavyweight boxer and former WBC heavyweight champion whose trademark pink boxing trunks and a left jab were key distinguishing characteristics....
, Tyrell Biggs
Tyrell Biggs
Tyrell Biggs , is an American heavyweight boxer. He won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA in boxing at the Superheavyweight division, after gaining bronze the previous year at the 1983 Pan American Games....
, Oliver McCall
Oliver McCall
Oliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall is an American professional Heavyweight boxer best known for winning the WBC Heavyweight Championship in 1994 after scoring an upset knock out victory over Lennox Lewis, in Lewis' home town of London, England, followed by his infamous in-ring meltdown in the rematch...
, Jimmy Thunder
Jimmy Thunder
Jimmy Thunder , is a former Samoan boxer.- Early life :During his early life and amateur career, Thunder was known as Jimmy Peau. His mother Papaliitele Milagi Leaupepe is from the village of Fasitoouta, and his father Lupematasila Maalo Faasavalu Peau is from the village of Falelatai...
, and Alexander Zolkin. During this long respectable run of results he lost a highly criticized points decision to fellow contender and future world champion Francois Botha
Francois Botha
Francois Botha , also known as Frans Botha, is a South African boxer, nicknamed the "White Buffalo". Botha won the vacant IBF heavyweight title in 1995 when he outpointed Axel Schulz in Germany...
, after dropping Botha in the first round.
Although he was a very talented fighter and had a promising run during the 90s, he largely squandered his talent. By the mid-1990s, drug problems had begun to catch up to Hunter, evident to all after his victory over Buster Mathis, Jr., which was turned to a No-Contest following a positive drug test.
Hunter would lose three fights in the last year and a half of his career, before retiring following a highly bizarre loss to Danish Heavyweight Brian Nielsen for the IB0 version of the heavyweight title. Handling Nielsen with relative ease, Hunter became the latest of a series of washed up 'name' American boxers to fight Nielsen and suddenly and inexplicably pull out with a sudden 'injury'. Hunter's ham acting indicated he had an arm injury and elected not to continue after the fifth round. He never boxed again.
Life after boxing
Hunter returned to the sport in September 2005, working as an instructor and trainer at the Tru Boxing Gym in Hollywood.Death
On February 8, 2006, Hunter was on the roof of the St. Moritz Hotel in Los Angeles, when he encountered two Los Angeles police officers, who had set up a buy-bust sting operation surveillance. The officers reported that Hunter, who was unprovoked, hit an officer on the head with a gun (which turned out to be fake). The other officer tackled Hunter, with the other officer eventually joining in the struggle. Hunter broke free, and pointed his gun at the officers, who promptly shot him twice, in the chest and the arm. Hunter was taken to Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where he died. The two officers involved, stated that they did not feel that Hunter was aware that they were police officers.Personal
His son Michael Hunter jr.Michael Hunter (American boxer)
Michael Hunter Jr. is an American heavyweight boxer best known to win the National Super Heavyweight championships in 2007 and 2009. He is the son of Mike "the Bounty" Hunter...
became US amateur champ in 2007.
Links and sources
- The Knockout Shot http://www.laweekly.com/2006-02-23/news/the-knockout-shot/ (L.A. Weekly)