MICHAEL Hunter is fixing his sights on the world stage after Friday's triple title victory.

The Hartlepool warrior took the British, European and Commonwealth super-bantamweight belts home after a points victory over Esham Pickering.

The 12-round battle was broadcast live by Sky Sports, whose officials labelled the bout as the fight of the year.

There was no let up in the ferocious pace as Hunter and Pickering slugged it out over 12 enthralling rounds.

And, while he will take a break to recover from Friday's exertions, Hunter is hungry to go one better.

"I will speak to my team, Team Hunter and decide what happens next. I would love a shot at a world title,'' he said. "Being a town lad, it would be a dream to defend my titles at Hartlepool United. I was brought up near the ground and it would mean everything to fight at Victoria Park.

"The crowd was unreal, they got right behind me and I could have fought 20 rounds, never mind 12.

"I knew I couldn't get beat, I had too much for him. He couldn't break me."

Hunter was put on the floor in both the first and second rounds, but, the ninth round aside, he was on top for the rest of the fight.

He admitted: "I was hurt when he caught me, don't get me wrong. It's a new feeling to be put down and I thought 'he's got me here' but I just shook it off. I was as right as rain.

"This went the distance, but I will knock him out next time, no doubt. I will stop him early, he couldn't handle me.

"From the third round onwards, I knew that was it and that I'd got him. He picked me off a couple of times in the ninth, but I won every round after that.''

Victorious coach Neil Fannan insisted he wasn't fazed when his champion-to-be took two counts of eight in the opening rounds.

He said: "In the first round when he caught Michael, he got up, cleared his head and I had no doubt that it was our turn next. When he did it again in the next round, it didn't affect anything. I knew Michael was OK and he didn't have to tell me that.

"He came back well and it took him two rounds to get back to the boxer I know he can be. He was eager to try too hard and please the crowd, but after four rounds he was settled.

"I was happy, then after six I was very pleased. It's hard because he has to keep the rounds going. After eight we needed another four to win it, but in the ninth he slipped a little and he needed another three now - I told him that. He was getting stronger and stronger and I knew he had the heart."

And Fannan added: "Will he challenge for the world title yet? There's no reason at all, but I would like at least one defence back here. I said years ago that he could go right to the top. We used to watch Michael Brodie and knew his time was coming to an end. We wanted to replace him and fight for the big titles.

"He fought Esham Pickering because he was the best out there. Now we can afford to wait and see, without rushing into things because Michael holds the belts.

"I would like at least one defence and there's nothing to stop the world title coming into play.

"If Esham Pickering had won that fight, would he really be offering us a rematch? Michael has already said he wants his first defence before Christmas, but I don't think ahead, I just get the next fight out of way then look at the consequences."