Two hot young prospects took a longer route to reach the golden opportunity, and will now fight it out in Don King’s “Fists of Fury” event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, this Friday. Michael Hunter and Cassius Chaney clash in a high-stakes encounter where the prize is the interim WBA heavyweight title and maybe a last shot to realize their championship dream. Who will make it to the top while the other tumbles down the order?

Hunter and Chaney, the no. 7 and 8 in the WBA heavyweight rankings, are at an important juncture in their careers. A victory will propel them into the mix of Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, whereas a loss will ensure they only stand as a gatekeeper to the rankings. But before the two put their careers and bodies on the line on the same card as Adrien Broner vs. Blair Cobbs, let’s have a look at how they stack up against each other.

Michael Hunter vs. Cassius Chaney: tale of the tape

Hunter, the younger of the two at 35, had turned heads with his enormous potential when he burst on the scene. His splendid record of 22-1-2 speaks volumes about his boxing acumen and growth since he turned pro over a decade ago. The American boxer has carved out a reputation as a feared knockout machine, as 16 of his wins have come through KOs. In addition, his KO ratio of 72.73% also adds to his stature. Where the Van Nuys native cedes ground is his size and reach.

‘The Bounty’ stands tall at 6’2″ (188 cm) and has a reach of 79.5″ (202 cm). What he lacks in size, he tries to compensate with power. Meanwhile, Chaney stands in stark contrast to him. Not only is he more experienced of the two at 36, but he also carries a massive size advantage. The Baltimore native has a wider frame of 6’6″ (198 cm). He also carries a reach advantage at 81.0″ (206 cm). Moreover, when he last stood on the scales, the numbers tipped at 257.0 lbs (116.6 kg), compared to Hunter’s 218.3 lbs (99.0 kg).

You throw in Chaney’s impressive record of 23-1 with 16 KOs and a KO ratio of 69.57% into the mix, and he stands out as a daunting opponent. On paper, his size and weight advantage alone make him a clear favorite. However, these numbers tell only a partial story, as things have been different for both fighters in recent years.

Recent form, momentum, and fighting style

The last time Michael Hunter lost a fight was in 2017 against a fighter named Oleksandr Usyk, the current undisputed heavyweight champion, who then reigned as an undisputed champion in the cruiserweight division. He fought a competitive fight back then, and since then, that steep learning curve has been steadily rising. While the 2012 Olympian is on a 10-win streak, his recent performances have left a lot to be desired. His consistency has been called into question. On the other hand, Hunter has been unfortunate, as several of his fights have been shelved in the past.

The fans remember him best for his close-contested fight with Alexander Povetkin in 2019, as he secured a split draw. He showcased his speed and technical prowess, along with his agility, which made him a hot prospect despite him being a medium-sized heavyweight. The 35-year-old has captured eyeballs with his talent amidst patches of unconvincing outings. He comes into the fight on the heels of another such performance against Ignacio Esparza last March. On the contrary, Chaney racked up the biggest win of his career in his last fight against Trevor Bryan last November.

Chaney has reinvented himself after George Arias edged him to a split decision loss in 2021. The orthodox boxer was on the sidelines for 14 months and then collected two quick knockout wins. Mathew McKinney found himself on the canvas in the first round of the fight. Bryan would suffer a similar fate but in the seventh round. The basketball player-turned-boxer has reinforced the knockout power in both of his hands. Chaney has adopted a more aggressive approach, which might help him topple Hunter’s technical prowess. Can he do it? Can Chaney build on his win against Bryan?

Prediction: Who might win it?

Undoubtedly, Chaney will look to rely on his size and reach advantage to drop Hunter to the mat. Besides his towering size, he has the knockout power to catch Hunter off-guard and land a devastating blow. He would also hope that Hunter’s hot-and-cold form continues. And if the Hunter who fought Jerry Forrest shows up, Chaney can back himself to come out as a winner.

For Hunter, the idea is clear. To have faith in him and his skills. But he also needs to have a good night in the office. He also has to figure out how to dust off his ring rust, as this will be only his third fight in close to 4 years. However, he has outmaneuvered larger opponents in the past. He would look to repeat the same this time, too.

What do you make of this coming fight between the two orthodox fighters – Michael Hunter and Cassius Chaney? Who do you think will bag a win on June 7 to move up the rankings? Let us know in the comments below.