Dunne dreaming of Hunter showdown

BERNARD DUNNE will be cheering on rival Michael Hunter as the Englishman bids for world title glory tonight in Hartlepool.

Dunne is preparing to face Esham Pickering in Dublin on Saturday night for the European super-bantamweight title vacated by Hunter, who faces Steve Molitor for the vacant IBF championship 24 hours earlier.

“I hope Hunter does the business, because when I beat Pickering, it would be the obvious fight to make (against Hunter). It would be a huge fight,” said Dunne, who has captured the imagination of the Irish public, selling out the 7,000-seater Point Depot in his home city.

Dunne added: “I’ll be sitting back with a big Coke, some popcorn and a Mars bar because it’ll be after the weigh-in for my fight.

“The super-bantamweight scene looks great at the moment with myself, Pickering and Hunter and I think there could be some great fights over the next couple of years.

“In effect my fight with Pickering is a world title eliminator as well as for the European title and I’m ready to take my chance and get the belt.”

Unbeaten Dunne accepts Pickering is a step up in class as the Sheffield-based fighter is a former British, Commonwealth and European champion, losing his EBU belt to Hunter on points.

“I’ve served my apprenticeship and now is the time for me to show everyone I’m the real deal,” said Dunne.

“I wouldn’t have turned professional if I thought I was just going to be a journeyman. I know that I have what it takes to beat Pickering.

“He’s a step up in class but I have the boxing ability and the punching power to beat him.”