By Ben Dirs BBC Sport in Hartlepool

Hunter (right) appeared outclassed in the ring with Molitor

There can be nothing more deflating in sport than watching a fighter scalped in front of his hometown fans.

That was the fate that befell Hartlepool's Michael Hunter on Friday night, with Canada's Steve Molitor cast in the role of pantomime villain by the Borough Hall faithful.

That a world title was at stake - the IBF super bantamweight belt - made it that bit more depressing.

The 28-year-old's big night may have slipped under the radar of most of the nation's media outlets, but it meant everything to the 2,000 or so rammed into this most intimate of venues.

There are two sides to being a local hero. Win, and a town celebrates with you. Lose, and you feel the weight of its disappointment.

"The crowd were absolutely fantastic and I'm just sorry I couldn't fulfill everyone's dream," said Hunter after the fight.

"The funny thing is I dreamt I was going to win the IBF title. And it nearly came true."

Will Molitor go on to unify the super bantamweight division?

In truth, Molitor would be a class above even in Hunter's wildest dreams.

It was close enough on the cards when the Toronto native delivered the coup de grace, a sickening left hand, in the fifth round.

But Molitor, who had been on the verge of a world title shot for four years, looked like a man who could go on to unify the division and beyond.

Serene on the back foot and clinical in attack, the 26-year-old has sparred many rounds with Mexican legend Erik Morales, and it showed.

Hunter's best chance was to catch Molitor, who had not fought in more than a year, cold in the early rounds, blown forward by the roars of the crowd.

But once Molitor had negotiated the first quarter of the fight and shrugged off any rust, there was only going to be one winner.

"He clipped me on the top of the head and it seemed to shake my boots to bits," said Hunter. "I couldn't get up. My legs were all gone."

That is because it was not a clip at all. More of a freight train to the jaw.

Hunter, who climbed off the floor twice to win the British, European and Commonwealth titles from Esham Pickering, is made of stern stuff and will return, though not at 122lb.

His trainer Neil Fannon sees his future at featherweight, and Hunter could be back in domestic title contention within two or three fights.

"I've had a fantastic year," said Hunter. "I was only British champion just over a year ago and I've just fought for the IBF title. That's a fast road."

Too fast on the evidence of Friday night. You have to doubt whether Hunter - and the rest of Hartlepool - will reach such dizzying speeds again.