A steady rain welcomed 2012 USA Boxing Olympian Michael Hunter when the 24 year old arrived on Saturday, January 26 in Phoenix, Arizona for a photo shoot at the Parasol Studio on Pierce Street. After he shook the rain from his clothing and made himself comfortable, I told him he resembled Michael Strahan the former defensive end and now a successful talk show co-host with Kelly Ripa. “Oh yeah, I get that a lot” he said with a smile.
In truth, he doesn’t look like Strahan who is 3 inches taller, 30 pounds heavier. Also, Strahan has a very noticeable space or gap between two upper teeth at the center of his smile. If you’re trying to do the math, Hunter stands 6′ 2″ and boxes at 210. He admitted he needs to drop 10 to get there. Incidentally, the retired football player is 20 years older than Hunter. I told him, I was pulling his leg and he laughed and said he didn’t see the resemblance either. He did concede that he wouldn’t mind having the same kind of career success enjoyed by the older Michael.
Written by Don Smith
Boxing wise, his fighting style has been compared to former Olympic Gold Medal Winner and World Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson. Michael said he is flattered by the compassion, but “there was only one Floyd Patterson”. After watching Michael square off with numerous opponents on You Tube, the idea of him being a Patterson clone is quite a stretch. Hunter doesn’t deploy the “peek a boo tactics” made famous by Patterson in the 60’s. Hunter, a third generation boxer, is trained by Ken Croom aka KC. His gym of choice in Vegas is the Hit Factory, owned and managed by his uncle. Younger brother Keith (150 lbs) is one of his sparring partners.
Hunter,a two-time National Champion and Bronze Medalist at the 2006 Under 19 World Championships in Moscow, will make his professional debut March 9 at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on the Iron Boy 6 boxing show. Iron Boy CEO Roberto Vargas and Matchmaker (Mike Sanchez) are still working on the March 9 card,but expect 3 female fights and Iron Boy favorites Carlos Castro, Victor Castro and slick Francisco C De Vaca (pro debut)to be included on the Marquee with Hunter. Vargas thinks he has a winner with Iron Boy # 6.
In December, 2012, Hunter signed with super sports agent JR Rickert who handles more than 100 professional athletes including WBO lightweight boxing champ Karim Mayfield and undefeated middleweight sensation J’Leon Love. According to Michael, Top Rank and Golden Boy weren’t interested because he isn’t a big heavyweight and he didn’t medal in the 2012 London Olympics. He did beat two qualifiers, but fought to a 10-10 draw in his third bout. Judges went to the scorecard decided to raise the hand of his Russian opponent based on the tie breaker system mandated by Olympic rules.
During our conversation, he made it clear that he isn’t the stereotypical boxer as portrayed in movies and sometimes in real life. He has no tattoos and his only piercing was for a small earring that hangs from his left ear. Allegedly, he once wore a tongue ring,but I didn’t ask him to say ah, so I could check the veracity of the printed claim. Also, he didn’t drop one F bomb during our session and he was very respectful to him mother when she called; 15 minutes after we said hello. Honestly, I don’t think airport security has anything to worry about when this guy is in the airport or aboard a plane.
His gentle and polite demeanor is a testimonial to how he was raised. He lost his father (Michael “The Bounty” Hunter) in a bizarre 2006 incident at the St. Moritz Hotel in Los Angeles and his mother (Gwen) became a supermom during a time of horrific sorrow. Whenever he is asked who is the most influential person in his life, Michael,without hesitation, gives the honor to his mom. The only mention of his late father came when I revealed that I interviewed actor James Caan 20 years ago in Dallas Texas at the Fairmont Hotel. Caan, believe it or not, managed his Dad for 2-3 years until he decided to leave. Michael didn’t tell me that he had met Caan before the start of the London Olympics at which time the actor pledged his support to the young fighter. Caan was quite the character when I met him.
Hunter, born in Van Nuys California, was raised in Las Vegas where he attended Palo Verde High school and excelled in basketball and football. His round ball skills earned him a spot on a handpicked All Star team that was described as elite. After graduation, he was offered two full boxing scholarships at Nevada Colleges. He declined both offers. Michael’s one public sin was in 2011 when he tested positive for Marijuana, resulting in a three-month suspension that forced him to forfeit a Gold Medal he had won during the Olympic Trials. His inner circle was devastated and Michael knew he had disgraced himself and disappointed his loved ones.To err is human!
He is very open with his opinion on the current status of the AIBA, USOC and USA Boxing. He thinks kids are being sacrificed at the expense of politics and neglect. He worries about injuries and broken dreams. He points to a high number of hand injuries as a problem that needs immediate attention. To illustrate, he spreads his hands apart and pretends to be holding a piece of tape.” Now, he continues, how can you wrap a hand properly when you only have this much tape and you need this much” as he widens his hands as to demonstrate what the athlete has and what he or she needs to reach their goals.
The former amateur boxer admires Dr. Charles Butler, the current USA Boxing President, and says Dr. Butler has some innovative ideas, but doesn’t know if the appointed president has the time or the support to turn the organization around. Butler took over the reins of the organization after Hal Adonis made controversial remarks that led to his downfall and dismissal. Butler’s critics say he needs to face a democratic election before he can call himself the real president of USA Boxing.
It is time to turn the page on a celebrated amateur career that resulted in 112 victories with a mere 6 losses. His Olympic experience further enforced his deep conviction that there was a reason why his father and uncle pushed him to be the best he could be. A reminder to all aspiring athletes, champions are made not born.
On March 9, he begins a new personal boxing chapter. Call the Celebrity Theatre Box Office or go to Iron Boy Promotions website for ticket information and show updates. Ticket prices start at $25.00 and ringside seating is available.
