Las Vegas native Michael Hunter missed out on representing the USA in the 2008 Olympics by just one qualifying win. The heavyweight amateur boxer is the son of former pro boxer Mike Hunter, known to ring fans as the ‘The Bounty Hunter.’ The junior Hunter said the London Games is his chance to show the world how much boxing is in his blood.
“[Boxing] is just something I was born to do,” said Hunter, who admitted he tried other sports like basketball as a kid. “Eventually, [boxing] just took over.”
Hunter said boxing allows him to express himself in ways he doesn’t ordinarily show others in public. Inside the ring, his confidence and cockiness take off and it’s usually his opponents who come out on the short end.
“It’s an art [form] so there’s really no right or wrong way, unless you lose,” Hunter laughs when asked about his boxing style. “As long as I win, I get to do what I want.”
Hunter shared more details of his strategy with the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “My plan is always the same – get off to a fast start, dictate the pace and build an early lead.”
The 23-year-old looks to help lead USA Boxing to a better showing in London than Beijing, where American amateurs walked away with just one medal.
“Being able to represent and say ‘I am from Team USA and I’m the best in the world and this is where I’m from…’ – [winning in London] would just be a tremendous deal.”