Dunne ready to punch above weight

HAVING chalked up an 18th straight pro win in Germany last weekend, Bernard Dunne is hoping to make a step up in class by challenging England’s Michael Hunter for the European (EBU) super bantamweight title within the next six months.

Both fighters have bouts pencilled into their diaries before then, but Dunne’s manager Brian Peters has held discussions with his counterpart Barry Hearn about a possible match-up.

Hunter claimed the belt in late October in his native Hartlepool with a tight majority decision against fellow countryman Esham Pickering, who has since called for a rematch.