Fury and Hughes return on a bill topped by Thompson vs. Wilson-Bent

Heavyweight Hughie Fury and lightweight Maxi Hughes will both appear on a GMB Sports show at Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield on September 27, it was announced today (August 22). 

Fury, 28-3, will face Christian Thun, 9-1, over eight rounds, while Hughes, 26-7-2, will box in a six-rounder against Efstathios Antonas, 7-2-2. Both fights represent the next stage in the rebuilding process for Fury and Hughes and both are must-win fights at that. 

Fury, now 29, has won five in a row since losing against Alexander Povetkin in 2019 but has been blighted by injuries, illness, and inactivity. His last win, a second-round stoppage of Patrick Korte, will have not only done his confidence the world of good but it also suggested he is now sitting down on his punches more and looking for the finish. 

Thun, his next opponent, should be a step up from Korte, but only a marginal one. The German’s only defeat to date came in a 2022 eight-rounder against Curtis Harper, yet there are no wins of any real note on the 32-year-old’s record. Certainly, should he shock Fury next month, that will mark the high point in Thun’s career. 

As for Maxi Hughes, he boxes for the first time since being stopped by Williams Zepeda in four rounds in March. That loss followed a contentious one against George Kambosos, meaning Hughes is now desperate to get back in the win column and maneuver himself into position for another title shot. He should have no problem doing so against Antonas. 

Topping the show in Sheffield is a good-looking middleweight fight between Shakiel Thompson, 12-0, and River Wilson-Bent, 17-4-2, while also on the show is a British and Commonwealth women’s bantamweight title fight between Tysie Gallagher, 8-2, and Tori-Ellis Willetts, 5-0. As well as all that, GBM’s new signing Reece Mould, 18-2, goes up against former British featherweight champion Ryan Walsh, 28-4-2, in a bout the promoters, with good reason, believe may steal the show.