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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brave Hunter fails in title bid | Brave Hunter fails in title bid |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Michael Hunter's bid to claim the IBF super bantamweight title ended in heartbreak when he was stopped by Canadian Steve Molitor in Hartlepool. | Michael Hunter's bid to claim the IBF super bantamweight title ended in heartbreak when he was stopped by Canadian Steve Molitor in Hartlepool. |
| Hunter hit the canvas for the second time after a fierce right from Molitor in the fifth round and was counted out. | Hunter hit the canvas for the second time after a fierce right from Molitor in the fifth round and was counted out. |
| The hometown hero had attempted to take the fight to Molitor but the visitor proved a class apart. | The hometown hero had attempted to take the fight to Molitor but the visitor proved a class apart. |
| Hunter said: "I thought it was a good fight until he caught me with a really good shot - but I proved my worth." | Hunter said: "I thought it was a good fight until he caught me with a really good shot - but I proved my worth." |
| Despite a record of just nine stoppages in his 22 previous wins, Molitor's sharp punching put Hunter on the deck for the first time in round four. | Despite a record of just nine stoppages in his 22 previous wins, Molitor's sharp punching put Hunter on the deck for the first time in round four. |
| Hunter had always vowed to fight in the only way he knew - ploughing straight into Molitor in the same style that had brought him to his 26 previous wins. | Hunter had always vowed to fight in the only way he knew - ploughing straight into Molitor in the same style that had brought him to his 26 previous wins. |
| But right from the start it was clear Hunter's 26-year-old opponent would provide a tougher challenge. | But right from the start it was clear Hunter's 26-year-old opponent would provide a tougher challenge. |
| Molitor immediately settled into his neat southpaw stance, and a succession of superb hooks and a right uppercut drained Hunter. | Molitor immediately settled into his neat southpaw stance, and a succession of superb hooks and a right uppercut drained Hunter. |
| It was no surprise when Hunter went down again from a fantastic left hand in the fifth, and referee Phil Edwards counted him out. | It was no surprise when Hunter went down again from a fantastic left hand in the fifth, and referee Phil Edwards counted him out. |
| "Hunter's a great competitor and he'll be back on the world scene in no time," Molitor said. "This is the most hostile territory I've been in and it took a bit of time to shake off the rust." | |
| Hunter added: "He's a world-class operator and has been for four years. I've only been world-rated for a year. | |
| "I held my own for five rounds and I'm not going to say the better man won on the night. Michael Hunter on his night would have beat him. | |
| "But that's boxing, one punch turns the fight around. I've had a fantastic year. I was only British champion just over a year ago. But I'll be back straightaway." |