If a narrow win over Kid Galahad in 2022 wasn't a career pinnacle, Maxi Hughes had certainly reached a peak – a moment that he parlayed into back-to-back bouts against world-class opponents George Kambosos Jnr and William Zepeda, once and future titleholders, respectively.
Trouble was, Hughes came up short in both instances – and was especially overwhelmed in a body-crunching stoppage at the unrelenting hands of Zepeda. After building himself up over the back half of his career despite a number of setbacks through its early stages, Hughes seemed to come up against a wall. Maybe, at age 34, he had already climbed as high as his abilities would allow.
But Hughes, 28-7-2 (6 KOs), says he isn’t done reaching, and on Friday at EcoPower Stadium in Doncaster, England, he will face Archie Sharp in hopes of positioning himself for another big fight and, perhaps, as close as a rung away from a world title.
“The fire that I’ve got in me right now, you wouldn’t believe it,” said Hughes, of Rossington, England. “I’ve held the IBO world title, and my goal has always been to get one of the big four. I’ve been very close to that goal before, and that’s why I need to win that WBC Silver title here on Friday night – it puts me right in the mix for a world title shot.”
Hughes is coming off a six-rounder against the anonymous Efstathios Antonas (TKO6) and a 10-round unanimous decision over the little-known Gary Cully, so the 30-year-old Sharp, 25-1 (9 KOs), may initially appear to be a reach too far. But in a bit of solid matchmaking, Sharp is coming off his first loss – by points – last July. The outcome could have dramatic implications, in either direction, for both men.
“I’m very confident in what I can do,” said Sharp, from Sidcup in Kent, England. “That’s why I am coming to his hometown to do it. It’s a big opportunity for me. I feel great at this weight and my preparation has been great. All I can say is I am ready.”
Also in support of the Terri Harper-Natalie Zimmerman main event, rivals Tysie Gallagher and Ebonie Jones – who first squared up as 12-year-old amateurs – will meet for the first time as pros in a junior featherweight 10-rounder for Gallagher’s pair of minor belts.
“Winning these titles will open up a lot of doors for me, so I’ve been training very, very hard,” said Jones, 6-0-1. “Holding these belts is a pathway to bigger things. I’m standing in the way of Tysie getting those big opportunities and I’m going to seize them for myself. No predictions, except I am confident my hand gets raised.”
Jones, a 27-year-old from Portsmouth, England, won the two fights between the amateur rivals. But Gallagher, 26, of Luton, England, considers those clashes ancient history.
“Those amateur fights mean nothing,” said Gallagher, 9-2. “I was 12 and 17 years old when they happened. Now I am an established professional holding multiple belts. I live and train like a true professional champion and I am getting better with every fight.”