Hunter Faces Stout Test in Andre Smith

Heavyweight Mike Hunter has been in rare form of late, stopping each of his past two opponents in the first round.

But the Encino fighter might not find his task so easy. In the 10-round main event at The Country Club in Reseda tonight, he will face Andre Smith of San Diego, a man who merely won his last fight two months ago in Japan by scoring a third-round knockout over Mike Tyson.

OK, so it was Mike Tyson of Los Angeles, not the unbeaten heavyweight champion.

Still, Smith, a big puncher with an awkward style, has a record (9-1, six knockouts) almost identical to that of Hunter (9-1-2, three knockouts).

Hunter agreed to take the fight after his scheduled bout last weekend with James Broad in Atlantic City, N.J., fell through at the last minute.

Country Club promoter Larry Goossen desperately needed Hunter after the main event originally scheduled for tonight collapsed. Former middleweight title contender James Kinchen was to have faced Milford Kemp, with the winner getting a shot at state middleweight champion Tim Williams. But Kinchen reportedly injured a hand in training camp, forcing the fight to be postponed until next month.

The state middleweight title fight against Williams might be rescheduled for December at The Country Club.

Tonight’s semi-main event will be a six-round junior featherweight match between Juevenal Molina of East Los Angeles (5-4-1, three knockouts) and Efren Chavez of South El Monte (5-1, one knockout).

There also will be four four-round preliminary fights.

Junior welterweight Steve Lewis of North Hollywood will try to keep his streak alive against Efren Granillo of San Jose (0-2). Both of Lewis’ previous fights have been first-round knockout victories.

Junior welterweights Calvin Meeks (4-0, one knockout) and Joel Gonzalez (0-9-2), both of Los Angeles, will meet in a rematch. Meeks won the first encounter by decision in a four-round bout.

Junior featherweight Les Fabri of North Hollywood will make his professional debut against Luciano Martinez of Los Angeles (0-2).

Also appearing in his first professional fight will be junior welterweight Alex Avelias of Los Angeles. He will face Martin Nunoz of Pacoima (0-1).

The first fight is scheduled for 8 p.m.