Cassius Chaney Ready To Greet Michael Hunter At The Crossroads

Heavyweight Cassius Chaney is looking to build off his spectacular knockout of Trevor Bryan last November.

Chaney faces former 2012 U.S. Olympian Michael Hunter as part of Don King’s “Fists of Fury” event on June 7, at the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. 

Chaney (23-1, 16 KOs), 36, is seeking a title fight, and facing the 35-year-old Hunter (21-1-2, 15 KOs) is a step in the right direction. Chaney, who lost a split decision to George Arias in 2021, was once considered a heavily-touted prospect who came to the sport late after being a forward for the University of New Haven basketball team. 

“My knockout over Trevor Bryan was so long ago, so now I am just looking forward to getting back into the ring,” said Chaney. “It was a statement because I was out of the ring for a while before that fight, so I’m looking forward to getting back to it.”

Chaney was coming off a 14-month layoff and had only had one fight since losing to Arias. That fight, against Matthew McKinney, lasted just one round before Chaney won via a technical knockout.

“I look forward to getting back in there and showcasing my abilities. I have grown a lot this past year, been boxing constantly, and been around different fighters,” said Chaney. “I have structured my team for me with people I trust. I am more at ease with my training because I trust the people I am with. You don’t want to be in a situation where you are with a great trainer but don’t trust them because it makes it hard to do certain stuff.”

Meanwhile, Hunter hasn’t lost since his defeat to the now undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in a fight that took place at the cruiserweight division in 2017. Hunter has two draws in his last six fights. His draw with Jerry Forrest was a concern as he showed signs of fatigue, a trait not seen in his fights. 

Chaney is eager to get firmly back on track and believes in his team. Hunter is the most accomplished fighter he has faced on paper. The bout serves as a crossroads fight for both as they enter or pass their mid-30s.

“Stylistically, Hunter is a much different matchup for me, so I am looking forward to that,” said Chaney. “My last win is behind me, so this is a whole new challenge, and I’m looking forward to it.”