The prospect of Bernard Dunne challenging Michael Hunter for the European super bantamweight championship edged a step closer at the weekend after Hunter successfully defended his European title against Tuncay Kaya in Blackpool. Hunter wore down Kaya before stopping the Frenchman  in the ninth round with a crunching right  to the ribs, and after three successful defenses of his European title, he is now eying a world title shot. But according to Dunne's manager Brian Peters, they are looking to persuade Hunter, 26-0 with 12 KOs, to defend his European crown against Dunne in Dublin later this year. Peters said yesterday that he will travel to England for talks with Hunter in the next few weeks. Some of Hunter's people were at the Stadium in Dublin earlier this month watching Dunne's eight-round demolition of American David Martinez.  Dunne, 21-0 with 13 KOs, said, "I have made no secret of my desire to challenge Hunter for his European title and hopefully the fight will happen before this year is out". Peters indicated that if the Hunter-Dunne showdown  does go ahead in Dublin that they may stage the promotion at the Point Theatre rather than the lower capacity National Stadium where Dunne is unbeaten both as an amateur and a pro.