IS THIS kid all right Ron? He looks too weak to box.

Those 12 words were delivered by Mick Gannon, a British boxing coach not the Mail's former Hartlepool United reporter, about a young Michael Hunter.

Mick was talking to his team manager, Ron Harvey, ahead of the European multi-nations championship in Greece.

Hunter hangs up his gloves - click to read

Hunter returned home proudly clutching a bronze medal while his team-mate James Rooney struck silver.

Gannon was not the last person to question the Hartlepool fighter's physique.

Looks though can be deceptive and he would not be the last either to marvel at Hunter's hunger to scrap and win.
And win. And win.

Not bad for a kid from Easington Road who was only sent to the Boys Welfare gym by his mum in a bid to keep him out of mischief.

What a stroke of genius by Margo, because her boy would enjoy a magnificent 19-year career as a junior, amateur and professional.

In the amateurs he won the Junior ABAs and National Association of Boys Clubs championships and two senior ABA titles in 1997 and 99. He was a losing finalist in 98 too.

Hunter turned professional in 2000 and transferred his success in the unpaid ranks into the pro game.

He won the Northern Area super-bantamweight title in 2001, when he stopped Sunderland's John Barnes in eight rounds at the Mayfair Centre in only his eighth contest.

The following year at the Jesters Centre, Brenda Road, he thumped Sweden's Frankie de Milo over 12 rounds to lift the World Boxing Federation's super-bantamweight belt.

• ON TOP OF THE WORLD screamed the Mail's headline on Saturday, October 19, 2002.

Not quite on top, given the WBF's lowly position on boxing's governing body radar.

But Hunter was certainly on his way and, handled superbly by manager Dave Garside and coach Neil Fannan, he just got better and better.

He stopped Mark Payne in seven rounds at the Borough Hall in April 2004 to become Hartlepool's first British champion in almost two decades.

Arch-rival Marc Callaghan (10 rounds) and Sean Hughes (six rounds) were his next victims, before Hunter took part in a career-defining bout and one of the greatest fights ever witnessed at the Headland venue.

Hunter met cocky Ingles-trained Esham Pickering in October 2005 for the British, Commonwealth and European belts.

Pickering's confidence looked justified as he floored Hunter in the first two rounds, only for the unbeaten warrior to fight back and outpoint him over 12 explosive rounds.

"I still get goosepimples when I think about that night," recalled Hunter who, overnight, had become a star of Sky TV's boxing coverage.

Hunter followed that up by stopping Yersin Jailuov (two rounds), German Gurtos (three rounds) and Tuncay Kaya (nine rounds) in three thrilling defences.

In doing so, Michael had surpassed the achievements of Hartlepool boxing legend Teddy Gardner.

Not only had he become the town's greatest, he was in the top 10 of all FOUR of the sport's leading world governing bodies, the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO.

It was official, Hunter had made it!

And in November 2006, promoter Barry Hearn and Garside, allied with Sky TV, brought world championship boxing to the Borough Hall, Hunter facing Steve Molitor for the vacant IBF title.

Sadly, the dream did not come true for Michael as the classy Canadian proved his punching power was as good as his boxing skills.
Hunter was knocked out in five rounds.

"That's the first time I've even been hurt," revealed the 29-year-old. "Yes, I'd been down before, but I felt the pain go all through my body.

"I was devastated I didn't win, but Molitor was very good.

"But given when I'd turned pro my ambition was to win a British title, I'm very proud of what I achieved."

Hunter boxed just twice after his first loss – beating Ben Odamattey and Youssef Al Hamidi on points – but hopes he would go on to conquer Europe in the featherweight division ended today when he officially announced his retirement.

"There were fights out there – if I wanted them," he said.

"But I'm comfortable with the decision I've made. I've had some great glory nights and while I've not made a fortune, I've been able to pay off my mortgage and have a nice home.

"I've enjoyed my career.

"When I was a kid, I used to cut through Grayfields on my way to and back home from the Boys Welfare gym.

"It was my field of dreams, where I used to think about fighting for titles.

"I did fight for titles and I'm proud that I was unbeaten as a European, British and Commonwealth champion.

"I'm proud too that I did in Hartlepool and for Hartlepool.

"I'd like to thank each and every person who has helped me, particularly Neil, who has been a brilliant friend as well as a great trainer, I couldn't have done it without him.

"I'd also like to thank everyone who came out to support me."