Boxer ready to chase father’s golden dream

Teddy Atlas knows the son.

"All of it can only help him," Atlas, the longtime trainer and boxing commentator, said. "Having that bloodline, that background, that pedigree, that understanding. Let’s be honest: The father was also all over the place with how he lived. But inside the ring, they’re very much alike. His father beat some good heavyweights. Who knows … maybe the son is trying to do something for someone up there …"

There are few roads to the Olympics that don’t include some hardship, adversity of different levels, hurdles to clear. Michael Hunter of Las Vegas isn’t immune to any of it.

This is his journey – good, bad, onerous.

The T-shirt has an airbrushed portrait of his father on the back. Across the front are the words "MAKE THAT MAN PROUD. RIP." He wears it into the ring and will have never faced a more meaningful fight than when he awakes here Wednesday.

"We talked about this moment since I was little," said Hunter, 24. "I think about him all the time. It has been a long road. To bring a gold medal home to Las Vegas, my hometown, would mean everything. I’ve learned from my downfalls. You only lose in life if you don’t learn. I’m here for all those people who have supported me, who have patted me on the back and whipped me on the butt for my ups and downs. The people who helped me see the big picture."

It doesn’t get bigger than this: Hunter begins his pursuit of a gold medal that has eluded American heavyweights for 24 years when he opposes Artur Beterbiev of Russia in the first-round of a 15-man draw.

Boxing in the Olympics is simple: Win and advance. Lose and become another tourist.

The father was also named Michael, and when he was fatally shot by undercover officers in 2006 for raising what was later determined a replica pistol after a scuffle on the roof of a Los Angeles hotel, the son was left to chase their dream of Olympic glory.

He believes life’s obstacles have hardened his resolve, that failing to qualify for the Beijing Games in 2008 and overcoming serious injuries and seeing this opportunity in London nearly disappear in a cloud of a positive marijuana test and having to make the team by winning the national championship, and then a second event in Brazil, have prepared him for the moment.

But has American boxing?

The United States won just one medal (a bronze) in the sport four years ago. It hasn’t medaled higher than that in heavyweight since Henry Tillman and Ray Mercer won golds in consecutive Olympics in 1984 and ’88.

We spend too much time preparing boxers for a professional career and not enough of it teaching them how to win at the amateur level. Economics plays a huge part. Guys who need the money chase it earlier and earlier now.

But the differences between a pro fight at the MGM Grand and an Olympic one here in factors such as style and technique and scoring and mental approach are vast. Pros train to fight six, eight, 10, 12 rounds. They take chances. It’s an opposite approach with most great amateurs.

Some believe Hunter is a future world champion, that his footwork and athleticism are good enough for America to again feel the pride and romanticism that comes from having one of our own atop the heavyweight division.

Whether that allows him to advance here is unknown.

Atlas is doubtful.

"I’ll fall down and eat your microphone if we win gold in heavyweight," Atlas said. "(Hunter) is a nice kid, a game kid, but when it comes to those he’s going to face here, he’s way behind in terms of international flavor. Hey, God bless him. I suppose if we have learned anything, it’s that you can pull off the impossible and miracles at the Olympics if you have a plan and a commitment to it. Maybe he will, but the odds against it are long."

The father and son made a promise to one another many years ago when the son made his intentions known about pursuing a boxing career.

They decided to one day go for gold.

That time has arrived for the son.

He will do his best to make the father proud.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on "Gridlock," ESPN 1100 and 98.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.