Heavyweight contender Michael Hunter has been sparring with Anthony Joshua ahead of the Brit’s mooted rematch with Dillian Whyte, and he thinks ‘AJ’ is going to repeat his victory from 2015.
Speaking to Boxing UK, Hunter has given an insight into what the former unified heavyweight world champion’s camp has been like.
“I came over to Dallas spar with Anthony.
I think AJ wins that fight.
I think AJ got the upper hand right now. As long as he stays focussed he will continue to have the upper hand. It’s all in his favour, I think he wants the fight and I think It’s a good fight for him to have to get his confidence back and continue to display what he’s been working on in the gym.
AJ Is a good dude, his temperament is great, he trains hard, he’s in good shape, and he’s ready, man. People want to say about new AJ, old AJ, I just think that a lot of us fighters depends on mindset and he has a great mindset right now.”
Hunter has himself been searching for big opportunities after breaking onto the heavyweight scene with an upset win against Martin Bakole in 2018 and a giant slaying against the 6′ 7½″ Aleksandr Ustinov later that year. Since then he has been up and down, with a draw against Alexander Povetkin in 2019 and another against Jerry Forrest in his last fight back in December 2021. The only loss on his record was against was against Oleksandr Usyk at cruiserweight.
Hunter is a lively opponent who AJ has brought in to help him on his mission to become a three-time world champion after losing his titles for the second time in his career to Usyk back in 2021.
Now training in the States under new coach Derrick James, the Olympic gold medalist is looking to build on his points win over Jermaine Franklin back in April with a more impressive display against The Body Snatcher, who revealed over the weekend that he has signed his side of the contract for this rematch.