It's time he gets sparked out. Makhmudov should do the job That is if Hunter doesn't chicken his way out of the fight like he did the Hrgovic fight
This is what all of us have been waiting for the last 7,5 years. Finally we'll get to see this rematch!
I don't understand Hunter. I really don't. He's a very good HW - solid in all departments and is a handful for anyone. (although he wouldn't beat Fury or Usyk i'd give him a chance against all others). He is also arguably , with Wilder out for a long while and Ruiz as unmotivated as ever, USA's top HW. And he's a likeable and good looking media friendly guy. He really could have way higher profile and make way more money. Yet he's just fighting C level opponents (in fact his last one was E-) Maybe it's terrible management or maybe he's just happy to plod along like this. But it's very strange.
If I was to be sympathetic to his plight I would say he's bought into being robbed blind by some sections of the fandom, in what was a close fight. So when he was offered the Hrgovic fight, he turned it down not because of the money, but because without a promoter's backing he didn't fancy being the B-side and thought he had no chance of winning on the cards. But he was talking about how he had a big fight lined up, so it was okay that he was effectively ducking an IBF final eliminator. But...I could understand his reasoning. Unfortunately he then signed up to some tick over fights against terrible opponents on a small time boxing circuit. Then he signed for Triller, and he keeps fighting woeful opposition, and any sympathy for him quickly evaporated.
He might be getting paid better or the same money for easier fights. He might also think he's in a rock and a hard place against the bigger heavyweights of the division like Joyce, Fury, and Joshua. I think he could beat the current Joshua but i'm not entirely sure. Fury would be a stretch too far and i think Hunter's style is made for Fury's jab. He's already lost to Usyk and i'm not sure he'd be too confident in fighting him again. He probably wants to be a ''legit'' heavyweight but also might feel like he could do better at bridgerweight which he mentioned in an interview he'd consider moving down to. I mean he could be making the same money or more facing Jerry Forrest or the same money vs Hrgovic in a much harder fight where he could possibly lose knocking him further down the pecking order. I think it's a no brainer but the fans will criticize it. It could be considered a ''duck'' but not because he's scared of Hrgovic but possibly of losing and maybe he's been simply offered more money in the Triller contract over x amount of fights.
The trouble with boxing, particularly the Heavyweights, is that there are 3 or 4 guys who can give you a 7 figure payout and anybody else you'll be fighting for 6 figures at best. As annoying as it is for fans, I can see it from Hunters perspective. You could fight Joe Joyce for, say $300,000 but if you lose you can wave goodbye to $3,000,000 you could earn fighting Fury or Joshua. It sucks but I guess this is the problem with boxing being a fringe sport outside of a few big names.
He should've capitalised on the Jake Paul relationship he has by facing good opposition on his cards to highlight the force he could be at heavyweight. Hell Triller have Pulev working with them, why not make that scrap happen? It's not a bad one by any means.
It's pathetic, Hunter, Ortiz and members on this forum that suck their units. Who's Hunter fought/fighting, same for Ortiz... wasted careers. Yet the forum hates on the one.effing.guy who is fighting TOP LEVEL competition, VOLUNTARILY. Haters, pure haters. Poisonous. Bitter people here : D Shame because I actually like watching Ortiz and Hunter fight. I wrote a commendation piece here on Ortiz.
