Hunter’s Solar Eclipse by Paul Concannon Jun 25th 2006

Hartlepool's undefeated Michael Hunter recorded the third defence of his European Super-Bantamweight title with a wild, frenetic and sometimes one-sided ninth round stoppage of his French-based Turkish challenger, Tuncay Kaya. Hunter made his intentions clear from the opening bell, planting a thumping right-cross to the visitor's body in the opening seconds. That punch was to be merely the first pebble of a quite considerable landslide, with Hunter quickly unloading an arsenal of punches, and at one stage cockily throwing three consecutive right hands while standing in punching range. His temerity earned him swift penance in the form of thumping Kaya right hand, which momentarily made his knees dip. Hunter blasted back with an unnervingly accurate combination, think speedbag and you are about right, and the two warriors battled it out in the middle of the ring until the bell. It was already apparent that the bigger guns belonged with the champion, but the hard head of the Turkish slugger was likely to make for a longish night. So it turned out. Hunter received a reprimand during the interval for the wild abandon he has showed, and thus began round two behind his jolting left jab, while sensibly used the ring perimeter to dish out educated looking clusters and accurate single shots from behind a high guard. A brief spell in the southpaw stance did little for Kaya's chances as he crudely bustled away, and the champion ended the round on top with a quick combination followed by a thudding right. The champion started the third quick and zestily, a chopping right connecting noticeably, while the visitor slugged away with his ungainly, brawling style. For his part, Hunter, who weighed 8 stone 9 pounds and 13 oz, used the ring well, though at one point did slip, and was tagged with a decent looking right for his trouble. Hunter underlined his class by simply lambasting back with jolting uppercuts off the ropes. Kaya, who also weighed 8 stone 9 pounds and 13 oz, did manage to block a few of the champion's counters, and at one stage hit back with a left, but was forced to take more accurate combinations as the crowd roared Hunter on. Early in the fourth, Hunter landed a cracking one-two, though generally it was a quieter session for him, providing suggestion that the champion may have just punched himself out. Hunter finished the round strongly to dispel that notion, but it was apparent that the little challenger was going to take some discouraging. Despite a deficit in size, class, power, and prohibitive odds in the champions favour, this contender was making it clear he was here to take home the title. Michael looked noticeably tighter in the fifth, working from behind a high guard, with double left hooks, solid rights, jabs, uppercuts and towards the round's end mixing in some useful-looking body punches. With five rounds gone, it was difficult to make a case for Kaya winning a single one of them, but he was undoubtedly making the champion earns his night's paycheque. The sixth was another good round for the Hartlepool terror, as he drilled the incessant challenger with every punch in the book – it must have felt, for Michael, like he was holding back the tide, a familiar feeling to his own opposition in normal circumstances. Hunter emerged from a corner skirmish with a cut above his left eye, which only spurred him on to dish out more punishment. Round seven was exhausting to watch, with Kaya bravely whaling away as the champion gradually chopped at the tree, landing fistfuls of 1-2's and big uppercuts. Two left hooks jolted the plucky challenger, and finally he looked as though he was wilting before hitting back again with an uppercut and a decent right. In the eighth, Hunter dolled out more abuse behind the jab, but another big right from Kaya proved he wasn't ready to shut-up shop just yet. At one stage, Hunter, who clearly enjoyed his night's work, threw and landed with at least five consecutive left jabs in an attempt to discourage the rugged battler in front of him. Ironically, Kaya had his best round of the fight, perhaps earning a share as he persisted his gutsy forward march. More rights off the ropes ensured that Hunter at least finished the session on top. In the ninth, and as it turned out, final round, Hunter worked yet more fluid combinations off his jab, before turning up the heat with savage uppercuts that finally had the challenger sagging, if only momentarily. The visitor then went into overdrive in a last-ditch attempt to salvage glory. The note I made in my journal best summed up his effort, ‘Insane brawling'. It would all come to nothing – one perfectly delivered hook to the solar plexus finally, belatedly, sent Kaya to one knee, where he sensibly took referee Adrio Zannoni's ten count. The official time was 2.59 of round nine. Hunter had taken a leaf out of Felix Trinidad's book his bout with Mayorga; if they keep taking them to the head, test the body. It was the sort of fight that made one visibly exhale afterwards, and was a doubtless draining affair even for the super-fit dervish of a champion. After three title fights in four months, Hunter deserves a rest, as he acknowledged afterwards. Hunter also indicated he feels ready for a world-title fight, and after three defences of his European title, that may not be an outrageous claim. He will be glad to see the back of Tuncay Kaya though, fighting him must have felt like one of those frenzied nightmares where one keeps hitting someone without apparent effect. The visitor can be very proud of a stubborn effort, his second wild-stab at Euro title glory. He had given his all. Hunter lead by 78-74 and 79-74 on the other two cards at the time of the stoppage. Hunter's promoter Dave Garside, who some twenty years earlier had defeated Glenn McCrory in the same venue, was clearly happy with his man's effort. “The opponent was very tough but Michael just keeps going until he gets them.” When asked what was next, Garside confirmed, “We will sit down and discuss that, but first thing's first, Michael's earned a rest.” That he has. The chief support provided something of a surprise when ‘Fearless‘ Franny Jones of Darlington suffered a first round stoppage loss to Darlaston's undefeated Stuart Elwell in a Welterweight 8-rounder. Jones started brightly enough, looking sharp and relaxed, and connecting with two right-crosses consecutively. Almost in the same breath, he found himself on the floor courtesy of a straight right from Elwell, and as he wobbled upright, he left the referee no choice but to wave it off. The official time was one minute and seven seconds. Jones (10 stones, 7 pounds & 13 oz) appeared to take the defeat in his stride, “What happened?” he asked afterwards, “I found myself on the floor and thought I must have slipped!” Jones will, however, need to muster up all his courage and fortitude to bounce back from a shocking and dramatic defeat. It was Elwell's (10 stones, 7 pounds &11 oz) first stoppage win after seven consecutive decision victories. Whether it confirms him as a genuine puncher, or if it was simply a case of catching his man cold, remains to be seen, but Elwell can be well pleased with an impressive victory against a useful opponent, with the added cherry of an appearance on SKY. Undercard summary: Jamie Coyle W PTS 6 Ben Hudson Scottish Light-Middle Coyle rebounds from first stoppage loss with a lively encounter against colourful Hudson. Coyle in charge but Hudson gamely whacks away through all six to keep it interesting. Official score 60-54, Coyle. Richard Turba L PTS 6 Paul David Blackpool based Slovak scores two disputed knockdowns but narrowly loses Light-Heavyweight six-rounder against a sharpshooter from Sheffield. Louis Veitch in the Turba corner unhappy with decision but the referee did the right thing. David landed most of the clean punches. Official score 58-57, David. Michael Jones W PTS 6 Sergey Starkov Good, if predictable, workout for former British champion Jones against hard-headed Starkov. Jones showcases his skills and wins every round against game, durable but too small Russian. Official score 60-54, Jones. Paul Trustcott W PTS 4 Billy Smith Interesting and at times exciting debut for Featherweight hope Truscott. Smith, naturally bigger, provides his usual competent and durable test; he slams away while Truscott turns on the skill. Official score 40-37, Truscott. Chris Burton W RSF 3 Simon Goodwin Heavyweight Burton has some anxious moments, absorbing some heavy rights, before ultimately dropping then stopping Goodwin. Official time 1.43. Lee Kellett L PTS 4 Gary Thompson Bouncing back from a disastrous debut, cruiserweight Kellett does marginally better in his second outing, flooring Thompson with a big uppercut in the first. Thompson does his own version of a James Toney thereafter, slipping almost everything and repeatedly punishing Kellett with the right. Thompson deserves the verdict, but it's close and Kellett can take heart from a gutsy effort. Official score 38-37. Photos by Paul Knox - www.om-shantiphotography.co.uk/

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thanks. Jun 26th 2006, 13:34:42 by lee28 i appreciate your quick response an do agree i only have my self to blame for not upping my work rate an sealing the fight. every1 has there opinion an i must except that like urself they wont always be the same as mine.i hope to give u a win to write about in my rematch.yours in sport lee kellett   No offence Jun 26th 2006, 08:59:45 by Hi Lee, Rest assured I have nothing against you either personally or professionally the 'marginal' comment was not intended to downplay your effort at all. It was a good fight, a tense 4-round struggle. After the first, I felt, Thompson did the cleaner work in each of the last 3 rounds - hence I had him 1 up at the finish. A little more output from you in the 4th would have earned you a draw on my card, and the fourth was very tight. It came down to this, clean scoring punches. I felt Thompson had the edge in that last round and hence nicked it. I said in my report that you can take heart from a gutsy effort, and I meant it. You clearly have power and heart, the uppercut that decked Thompson in the first was a cracker. Lee and the last thing I wanted to do was cause any offence. Good luck for the future. Paul   what?? Jun 26th 2006, 04:38:39 by lee28 u realy dnt like me do u!!! marginaly better?? my first rd and wiv knock down thats 2 up an ur telling me i got not even a share of 1 of the nxt 3??? please!!!i lost it more than he won it by sitting back.he did good and i know i took to many rite hands but proved after last time i have a chin an cud of gone on!!i was 70 percent he cnt get any better.i know my limits dnt get me wrong an my own fault for throwing away but i deserved sumat from it an marinally better is an insult Lee Kellett