Michael Hunter insists Tyson Fury will duck December fight: 'I can guarantee they’ll pick the easiest opponent'

Michael Hunter is one of the names in the frame to face Tyson Fury in December - but the American insists the 'Gypsy King' will settle for a 'softer' and 'easier' opponent than him.

WBC heavyweight champion Fury this week claimed his proposed trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder is off - with Fury now set to fight back in the UK for the first time since 2018 later this year.

The search for an opponent is underway with Fury's co-promoter Bob Arum naming a five-man shortlist this week consisting of Hunter, Agit Kabayel, Efe Ajagba, Oscar Rivas and Charles Martin.

Hunter, whose only professional defeat came against Oleksandr Usyk at cruiserweight back in 2017, believes he poses a bigger threat to Fury's title reign than Wilder - but doesn't believe the champion's promoters will risk putting them in the ring together.

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Hunter told PressBox PR: “There has been no offer put out there yet. I am just as close as I was a year ago, I’m the same distance. I don’t think there’s going to be a fight with Tyson Fury because there are easier fights. They would rather have easier fights, but you never know.”

“I think I pose more of a threat than his original opponent Deontay Wilder.

“I’m the best one on their list, but I can guarantee they’ll pick the easiest or softest opponent. It’s not about fighters fighting the best people anymore.”

Fury beat Hunter in the amateurs in 2006, with the latter still disputing that judges' decision.

The 32-year-old, who shared a thrilling draw with Alexander Povetkin last time out in December, insists he should have been given the win that night and says he would have no problem taking the champion into deep waters once again.

“I would fight for free, I'd fight Tyson Fury for absolutely nothing. There’s a lot of budget being saved right there, and they still wouldn't fight me.

“I see this as a Tyson Fury move rather than a TopRank move - I think the amateurs has a lot to do with it. People say it was the amateurs and it was a long time ago, but it’s a little different when you beat him how I beat him.

“I felt I beat my guy every step of the way, It wasn't really close. I felt I won a unanimous decision and almost by knockout, I had him out on his feet towards the end.

“It’s the same nature if we fought now, you’d see him in deep water. Taken to a place he doesn't want to be. I would cut the fight short.

“The only thing he has is he’s bigger than me. He’s not stronger than me, faster than me, he has nothing more than me. His will isn’t as strong, his mental capacity - we know that has some faultiness to it - I could see a lot of things I could capitalise on.”

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