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ERIC HUNTER ON ANTONIO ESCALANTE CLASH: "I WANT A KNOCKOUT AND I'M GOING TO GET IT"

By Percy Crawford | May 20, 2015
ERIC HUNTER ON ANTONIO ESCALANTE CLASH:

"Everything is going good. They are doing what they supposed to do for me right now. I fight this Friday, May 22nd, in Cali against Antonio Escalante. It should be a good fight, but I'm looking for the knockout...I'm looking for the knockout. I want a knockout and I'm going to get it," stated featherweight contender Eric Hunter, who talked about his upcoming clash this Friday with Antonio Escalante. Check it out!

PC: You looked solid in your last outing against Rene Alvarado. Tell us a little bit about that fight.

EH: Everything was good. I had a good camp. We got the victory and now we on to something else.

PC: Was he tougher than expected, because you hit him with some good shots and he wasn't going anywhere?

EH: He had a solid chin. I thought he was going to fight me a little bit more, but I think after he found out it was a different level, he just wanted to survive.

PC: Your last 3 wins, your opponents combined record is 57-6. The level of opposition you have been facing, is that a testament to you wanting a world title here soon?

EH: I guess so, man. I don't know, man. I don't really look at records and who they fought. I just look at it as a fight and I just go into the fight prepared. I was bitter from that Mike Oliver fight because everybody that seen the fight don't feel I should have been disqualified. That was a bad call. I moved past it and I'm on to bigger and better things.

PC: How did you get past it?

EH: Just tried my best to mentally block it out because I was kind of hurt about it because it happened in my own city and at the time, I had no backing. I was a little frustrated about it and that's why I fought somebody tougher than him in my next fight.

PC: Golden Boy seems to keep you busy and gets you exposure. How do you like the move to Golden Boy so far?

EH: It's a process. Everything is going good. They are doing what they supposed to do for me right now. I fight this Friday, May 22nd, in Cali against Antonio Escalante. It should be a good fight, but I'm looking for the knockout.

PC: That's definitely a step up as far as namesake goes for you. Was this the kind of guy you were looking for?

EH: Yes, but I don't think it's more of a step up than Rene Alvarado. Rene Alvarado was a solid competitor. Antonio Escalate, he's solid. I'm looking to put on a good performance against him too.

PC: You switched from orthodox to southpaw a lot against Alvarez. Is that something you were working on, something we can expect to see a lot more of, or just an opening you saw for that particular fight?

EH: Before the fight, I said that I didn't want to look good fighting southpaw, although I can look good. I wanted him to think that he was going to have a good time against me when I was southpaw, but then I switched it up and it was just time to take over the fight. Whoever seen the fight saw that after I turned right handed, I just took over the fight. I made it look kind of easy and boring. I was trying to get the knockout, but I couldn't. I was trying for it though.

PC: 50 Cent has been around you a lot lately. What's your relationship with him and how did that relationship develop?

EH: When Bernard Hopkins fought Kovalev, I was talking to him while I was fighting Daniel Ramirez and I told him I was going to holla at him after the fight. We just built a real good friendship. He's like a mentor to me. He's like a big brother to me. He look out for me and make sure that I'm aight. He's just a real good brother and he makes sure that I'm okay as far as boxing and makes sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to do.

PC: One of his fighters, Billy Dib, is someone you had your sights on for a long time. Is that kind of on the backburner for now?

EH: I kind of backed off of it because I didn't hear nothing about it. And then when we had a little conflict and drama as far as talking trash and stuff, I really wanted to just get up there and just fight him and just get him out the way. He kind of like a spoiled kid I thought because I don't think he got talent for him to be talking like he somebody. I guess he was trying to pump himself up. But if he doing his thing, then sure, I would love to fight him.

PC: What are your thoughts on the current state of the 126-pound division?

EH: It's hot! Real hot and we have a lot of talent. You don't really know who is going to take over at 126. We have names here and they just making them the #1 fighter and I don't think they should be. But with that being said, I think it's a real hot division.

PC: What can people expect from you Friday night?

EH: A good performance, a solid performance, and I'm looking for the knockout. I want a knockout and I'm going to get it.

PC: You had Bernard Hopkins, who you look up to there, when you were headlining your first Golden Boy event. Did you put too much pressure on yourself in the Alvarado fight?

EH: I did because I knew he had never fought nobody like me. I knew as far as talent-wise he had never seen anybody like me and I really wanted to knock him out. I wanted to put my stamp in the game because they gave me a chance to be the main event on a nice card in Philly and I wanted to perform for Bernard and Oscar and Robert Diaz and Eric Gomez. I wanted to really show my talent. I did enough to get the win, but I know I can do better. I know I can do better and I was looking for the knockout; I just couldn't get it. I tried too hard and I should have just took my time.

PC: It's always good catching up with you. Give me something in closing.

EH: Just look out for me this Friday, May 22nd. Tune into Fox Sports 1. I will be taking on Antonio Escalante and it should be a good performance again and hopefully I can give y'all a knockout.



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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