Albert Bell is staying busy - and at lightweight. The unbeaten Toledo native (27-0, 9 KOs) will face Keith Hunter (16-2, 10 KOs) on August 30 at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, a matchup sparked when Hunter called Bell out on social media - on his birthday, no less - after Bell’s original opponent fell through.
Bell, a rangy six-footer now in his second straight bout at 135, made his name with a 2019 upset of then-undefeated Andy Vences. He returns to the same hometown venue where he outpointed Josec Ruiz over 10 rounds in April. The move down from junior lightweight has been about opportunity: lure a top-tier name, force a title shot, or both.
Hunter, the younger brother of heavyweight Michael Hunter, brings power and momentum after a February knockout of David Reyes Cota. He’s also rebuilding after a 2023 stoppage loss to rising junior welterweight Rohan Polanco - fuel for a risk-reward swing against an undefeated hometown favorite.
Stakes are real, not rhetorical. Bell’s promoter Vick Green says the bout is set for the 135-pound championship limit and will carry the IBF International and WBA NABA titles. Win those, and Team Bell aims at the winner of Raymond Muratalla vs. Andy Cruz - if that IBF mandatory comes off. As for the chatter: “Be careful what you wish for,” Bell said of Hunter’s callout. “You just might get it.”
Fight card:
▪️Albert Bell vs. Keith Hunter, 10 rounds, for the vacant IBF International and vacant NABA lightweight titles
▪️Tyler McCreary vs. Derrick Murray, 8 rounds, super featherweight
▪️James Evans vs. Vercell Webster, 6 rounds, heavyweight
▪️Martin Tucker vs. Ryan Venable, 4 rounds, lightweight
▪️Sean Waugh vs. Tavaris Smith, 4 rounds, super lightweight
▪️Ryan Williams vs. Marcus Decamp, 4 rounds, super flyweight
▪️Adel Mason vs. Ira Terry, 4 rounds, super bantamweight
▪️Rickeyblue Stanley vs. Logan Reynolds, 4 rounds, super lightweight
▪️Armone Belmon vs. Marcus Smith, 4 rounds, light heavyweight
▪️Damari Philson vs. TBA, 6 rounds, super featherweight
▪️Jeffrey Hudson Jr. vs. Printice Canada, 4 rounds, super featherweight
▪️Kechaune Jenkins vs. TBA, 4 rounds, super featherweight
▪️Lavars Carter vs. TBA, 4 rounds, welterweight
