By Ben Dirs BBC Sport in Hartlepool

Hunter says he has been struggling to make his weight

Michael Hunter insisted Friday's world title defeat was little more than a blip and that he would be back in action as a featherweight soon.

Hunter, 28, was knocked out by Canada's Steve Molitor in the fifth round of Friday's IBF super bantamweight clash.

Hunter told BBC Sport: "I did myself proud and it's not the end of me.

"I'm going to step up a weight. It's been on the cards. There's plenty of featherweights out there who like a good tear-up."

Hunter's trainer Neil Fannon said his charge had been struggling to make the 122lb limit since claiming the British, European and Commonwealth belts from Esham Pickering last year.

"It's been a little bit of a grind over the last 12 months," said Fannon.

"He's developed into a lot harder hitter and a stronger fighter but he's been finding it hard to make the weight. He'll make a better featherweight."

The defeat by slick southpaw Molitor was Hunter's first in 28 professional encounters but he could find himself back in title contention within two or three fights.