Hartlepool's big night can lift Hunter to world stage

THE motto towers above every drop of sweat that burns its way out at Neil Fannan's Hartlepool gym.

With Michael Hunter on the verge of the biggest night of his life, he is making those sacrifices.

Nine weeks into his diet and "there's not an ounce of body fat on me," he declares.

"I can't go to watch Pools because of the cold. I'm ready now, no doubt about it. I've been on a diet for nine weeks. I usually fancy an Indian or Chinese, but know I can't. It's not worth it.''

Small sacrifices they may appear, but to many 27-year-olds, they mean everything on a weekend.

Few possess the discipline Hunter needs in preparation for each fight.

But with 22 wins and a harsh draw verdict from 23 bouts as a professional, it's fair to say Hunter, Fannan and manager Dave Garside are doing it right.

On Friday, Hunter goes into battle with Esham Pickering, with the British, European and Commonwealth belts up for grabs.

In front of a packed and passionate Borough Hall crowd and the Sky Sports cameras, Friday night means everything.

Hunter is ready now. After waiting almost three years for a tear-up with Pickering, the fight can't come soon enough.

"This is the one I wanted. Touch wood, I beat him,'' said Hunter. "He's been at the top of the tree all his career and all I've heard for years, wherever I've been, is Pickering.

"He's been at the top and to get there I have to beat him. I feel sharp. We've had the last spar on Saturday. This week I'll only train once a day, it's about ticking over.

"A lot of people think the hard work has been done, just because they are in good condition. That's wrong, the last week is hard.

"You can't afford to slip up, to drop down. The last few days are vital.

"I've been on my diet for nine weeks. I'm down to the weight I normally am on the day of the fight. I'm ready. I train hard, but this time I've trained with more desire because I know what is at stake.''

HUNTER'S first taste of boxing came in his formative years, as an 11-year-old. After getting the bug, he was in it for the long term.

The Boys' Welfare Club on the Throston Grange estate is a five-minute jog from Easington Road, where he was brought up.

"I used to go to the youth club, the old Boys Welfare and there was boxing on,'' he recalled.

"One of the lads from our street used to go and I fancied it. Being kids from a council estate, we all fancied it.

"Some of the lads dropped away, but I really fancied it and kept going every night.

"I had a couple of fights, loved it and really got into it. I'd win some, lose some, win some lose some and it went on like that, but I was hooked and that was it.

"My first fight was in the Owton Manor club - I've still got the trophy in our house, it's the only one I've kept. It was against Lee Wright from Jarrow and I was 15.

"I went to the junior ABAs and won after stopping everyone. I really believed in myself and started hitting a lot harder. I was on the up.

"I was 17 or 18 in the NABCs and did the same to everyone, even Nicky Cook, who is now the European featherweight champion.

"I went to the ABAs shortly after and my coach at the time, Peter Cope, said if I did OK, we would go overseas and fight. I won the ABAs - eight stone I was - and was flying.''

But he found that tough going and admitted: "I had three European qualifiers, in Greece, Finland and Turkey and failed all three.

"I wasn't strong enough, they all had more experience than me. Then it was time to move up, I was struggling with the weight.

"I got found out in the ABA final, because I got stopped in the third round.

"I was going to move to featherweight, but went to bantamweight overnight. I won the ABA at that weight.

"Then it was back to featherweight again and I lost in the semi-finals of the ABA. Then I turned professional.''

Turning pro, the Ableclean sponsored boxer knew it was time to knuckle down.

And his manager Dave Garside has been part of the success story, alongside his prodigy all the way.

A powerful cruiserweight in his prime, Garside brings plenty of boxing experience to Team Hunter.

Garside said: "He's got loads of heart and bottle. He's a tremendous trainer and has the right attitude. I spotted something in him and wanted to help him out.

"I do this as a hobby, some people play golf or whatever, I put boxing shows on and in Michael, I know he is something special.

"All the success is down to Neil. He drives all the boxers on in the gym.

"I've got contacts and I put the shows on. We have a good, strong gym and I always say a happy gym is a winning gym.

"Everyone gets on well and the theory has been proved.

"These two on Friday are the best in Europe, without a doubt. We know the winner will go to the world stage.''

Hunter has already been a world title holder. He got a unanimous decision against Frankie De Milo for the WBF Super Bantamweight title in 2002.

And while the WBF title may not hold the weight or prestige of the others, it propelled Hunter's name up in lights and made his name known.

The Borough Hall will be a partisan and passionate place on Friday night as Hunter looks to add another chapter of success to the town's strong boxing heritage.

"In this town if you are a boxer, everyone knows you or wants to know you,'' he said. Mostly, you get a lot of respect.

"This town has a great boxing history. After every fight we say 'we won't beat that night again' then we go and do it - and I know this one is going to be the biggest of them all.''

* Tickets are still available by calling 07973 792588 or (01429) 232024.

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