Michael Hunter has taken aim at Hughie Fury, criticising his opponent ahead of his WBA (Regular) heavyweight title eliminator and claiming that the British boxer 'can't punch'. In criticising his opponent he has spoken of his desire to face Hughie's cousin Tyson in a future fight with a world title shot just one fight away should he win this one.
The winner of this fight between the 33-year-old American and Fury will take on either current regular title holder Trevor Bryan or Britain's No. 1 ranked contender Daniel Dubois for a shot at the heavyweight crown. Dubois and Bryan face off in a fight on June 11 to decide who holds the WBA (Regular) title.
Holding this title could well mean that a shot against any of the current world title holders Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury could be on the cards, a prospect which Hunter appears to be targeting in the build-up to this fight. He also criticised his opponent, claiming that all the 27-year-old has going in his favour is his connection to cousin Tyson.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, he said : "He just can't punch, "He's good, I think he's a decent boxer, he's got some decent skills, he's tall, he's long, he comes from the Fury family.
"The best thing we can say is he comes from a Fury family, a fighting family. That's the best thing I can see." He added. "I don't think he's a great puncher, when you say technical boxer that's what I see, it means he's just not a puncher."
However, Hughie Fury is no pushover, having fought for a world title against Joseph Parker back in 2017. Meanwhile, Michael Hunter's last fight was an underwhelming display against Jerry Forrest in December. However, he has fought for a world title himself, taking on Oleksandr Uskyk for the WBO cruiserweight championship five years ago.
These are two fighters with pedigree and as is often the case with such fights there are now some big claims coming from Hunter, who has said he wants to take down the Fury cousins one-by-one. "I'm excited to be over in England and display my skills," Hunter added.
"We're going to knock them [the Furys] down one by one, Hughie first." He said. "He's in the way, I'm going for the belts and anyone in my way I've got to run them over.
