Name: Mike (The Bounty) Hunter
Born: 14 September 1959
Died: 8 February 2006 Aged 46
Career: 1985 to 1996
Record: 36 fights, 26 wins (8 by KO/TKO), 7 losses (1 by KO/TKO), 2 draws
Division: Heavyweight
Stance: Orthodox
Titles: IBF USBA heavyweight. WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight
Major Contests
Scored wins over: Oliver McCall **, Dwight Muhammad Qawi**, Pinklon Thomas **, Jimmy Thunder, Jose Maria Flores*, Ossie Ocasio**, David Jaco, Tyrell Biggs*, Alexander Zolkin*, Cecil Coffee,
Lost against: Frans Botha **, Alexander Zolkin*, Aurielo Perez, Marion Wilson, Brian Nielsen**,
Drew with: James Pritchard,
No Decision: Buster Mathis Jr
**Past/ future holder of a version of a world title
* Unsuccessful challenger for a version of a world title
Story
Born in Greenville, South Carolina Mike Hunter came to boxing late. He had his first professional fight in Maryland on 14 December 1985 at the age of 26. It followed his release from prison having spent seven years in jail for armed robbery. He was floored in that first fight but won a split decision. In only his fourth fight he scored a victory over unbeaten Avery Rawls in an eight round contest in Las Vegas. He returned to the East Coast with mixed success winning a few and fighting a couple of draws and losing a split decision against Levi Billups. Actor James Caan was attracted by Hunter’s skills and managed Hunter for three years. Hunter headed West again in 1987 going 3-2 in 5 fights. By the end of 1987 his record was 9-2-2 and in January 1988 he outpointed a fellow-novice Oliver McCall with McCall going on to beat Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight title in 1994.
Hunter really broke through in a big way in 1990. He had been fighting at around 200 to 210 lbs and his next big fight and, biggest win at that time, came in March 1990 when he won the WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title with a wide unanimous decision over former WBA champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi. In his previous fight Qawi had lost a split decision against Robert Daniels for the vacant WBA cruiser title. That gave Hunter a 14-2-2 record and a world rating. He had found his feet in boxing and he was gaining a reputation as clever, skilful defensive fighter hard to beat with a great chin but lacking power. He was comfortable on the back foot holding his hands low using his reflexes to dodge punches leaving his hands free to fire punches from different angles.
In other fights in 1990 he outclassed former WBC heavyweight champion Pinklon Thomas then went down to Australia to kayo unbeaten Jimmy Thunder. He continued to fight in Australia stopping experienced James Flores Burlon, a former WBA title challenger, and winning a unanimous decision over former WBA cruiserweight champion Ossie Ocasio. In all Hunter spent two years living in Australia with his family.
Back in the USA he was beginning to be labelled a spoiler and unpredictable and the fights dried up as he had only two fights in 1993 beating David Jaco, but losing a split decision to unbeaten South African Frans Botha. He was busier in 1993 but there were rumours of drug problems. Despite that he beat Tyrell Briggs, Alexander Zolkin, Cecil Coffee and Buster Mathis but the Mathis decision was changed to No Decision after Hunter tested positive for a banned substance.
His career began to fall apart. He was still able to beat some lower level fighters but defeats in a return against Zolkin, 8-0 Aurelio Perez and 7-16-3 Marion Wilson showed he was finished as a fighter. He travelled to Denmark in May 1996 to challenge IBO heavyweight champion Brian Nelson and suffered a fourth round stoppage defeat-the only time in his career he was beaten inside the distance.
Hunter did eventually return to boxing working as an instructor and trainer in 2005. Inspired by his father’s achievements in the ring his son Michael (The Bounty) Hunter II was starting to make his mark in amateur boxing and won a silver medal at the National Golden Gloves in April 2006. He would go on to represent the USA at the London Olympics in 2012, losing on points to Artur Beterbiev, and then to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO cruiser title in 2017 his only loss to date.
Michael Snr never saw his son’s successes as an amateur or so far as a professional. In February 2006 on the roof of a Los Angeles hotel Hunter came across two undercover police officers who were carrying out surveillance on a drugs deal. Reportedly Hunter, although unprovoked, hit one of the officers with a gun, which turned out to be fake, and both officers tackled Hunter. When Hunter broke free he pointed the fake gun at the officers and he was shot twice and taken to hospital where he died. The officers involved said they thought that Hunter did not realise they were police officers.