This time last year, Maxi Hughes was considering launching an appeal to the IBF over the scoring of his contentious decision defeat to George Kambosos.
The former British and IBO lightweight champion did all he could to ensure the controversy wasn’t forgotten and was eventually given a conciliation of sorts.
Rather than a rematch with Kambosos, in March, Hughes, 26-7-2 (5 KOs), was handed an IBF and WBA eliminator against the relentless William Zepeda.
Hughes had a disastrous run into the biggest fight of his life. He was deported from America just an hour after landing when immigration officials informed him that he had traveled with the wrong visa and when he did finally arrive in Vegas after a stressful detour which took in London, Belfast and Dublin, he was unable to stand up to the Mexican’s ferocious body attack and was retired on his stool after four rounds.
The past twelve months haven’t dampened Hughes’ enthusiasm for the sport. Desperate not to go stale, he will fight Greece’s Efstathios Antonas, (7-2-2, 2 KOs), over six rounds in Sheffield on Sept. 27. The fight is a major step down in grade and occasion, but the 34-year-old certainly isn’t treating it as such.
“I’m long enough in the tooth to have seen these kinds of fights go wrong. I’m not seeing this as a keep busy fight. This is just a fight. I’m training as though I was preparing for William Zepeda like I did in March in Las Vegas. It’s what I do. I’m professional in and out of the ring,” he told VIP.
“I had two weeks off after Zepeda. I’ve been back in the gym all spring and all summer. We’re at the back end of the summer now. I’ve been pecking at my promoter, Lou DiBella. ‘Who are we fighting? When are we getting this big opportunity again? I’ve shown I’m at world level and belong there. I want another opportunity.’ Unfortunately, the big fights aren’t coming yet so I said I just want to fight. I want to keep busy. I want a face and a date, and I want to get under the lights and keep improving and keep fighting.”
Should Hughes do as expected and get past Antonas, DiBella can expect his phone to quickly start lighting up again. Hughes is gearing himself up for another assault on the world lightweight scene. His performance against Kambosos instilled in him a belief that he has what it takes to trouble the world’s best and, if a major fight doesn’t present itself, a number of highly ranked, exciting British prospects like Sam Noakes and Mark Chamberlain have emerged over the past twelve months. Hughes won’t be short of options and believes he has plenty of time to accomplish his goals.
“Either work into a mandatory position for one of the four main world titles or to simply have a shot at a world title. If that doesn’t come, just big money fights. In my mind, that’s where I know I’m approaching, the latter end of my career,” he said.
“I’ve listened to enough boxers who’ve retired and a lot of them say that you’ll know when the time’s right and only you’ll know. My mum’s been wanting me to pack in for years. My wife doesn’t say she wants me to pack in, she says, ‘I would be quite happy if you did stop. I’m not saying stop but I will be happy when you do’ but, right now, I still feel good. I feel I’m in my prime. I’m on the hill sprints tomorrow. A group of us go. I’m probably the oldest there but I’m strong to the end.”
John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79
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