DAILY SPORT catches up with unbeaten Lightweight prospect Maxi Hughes a head of his fighht in Rotherham this Friday on the undercard of Curtis Woodhouse.
PZ: How did you get into boxing?
MH: I was 15 years old when I started boxing, but two years prior to that I used to play rugby league and in all honesty was just a young lad who used to like playing sport and keeping fit. During the summer our rugby coach used to take us all down to the boxing gym to get us really fit and try out another form of fitness training.
I enjoyed it straight away, but when I went back to the rugby I started to be put in positions I didn’t want to play and I got fed up. I then asked my mum if there was a boxing gym near to us, and decided to try my hand at boxing. She came back and found a gym that was only 5 miles from us. Due to playing rugby I was already quite fit, and I found I fitted in really quickly. That combined with the praise and encouragement my trainer used to give me, I decided to give it a real go.
PZ: Any other members of your family who box?
MH: Not that I know of! I think I’m the first one.
PZ: Tell us about your amateur career.
MH: I was an amateur for five and half years. I used to enjoy the boxing so much that I never actually realised I was competing at any level at first. In my first year I reached the ABA semi finals with not even ten fights under my belt and fought the guy who had won it the year before and had had 25 fights. I really didn’t understand the championships. My trainer would tell me your fighting here or fighting there and I would give it everything. As time went by I started to understand the system more and started taking training far more seriously. Over the amateur days I had 53 fights and I won 38. I got to two semi finals, four quarter finals, but never got to the finals. I won an ABA challenge belt which made me the No. 1 in Yorkshire. Many of the top fighters for my weight division today I’ve been in the ring with. It’s a good confidence booster to know I have competed with them and beaten many, and they are now also in the pros and potentially my next opponent.
PZ: You are currently undefeated in seven fights. Apart from your draw against Ronnie Clark which was a very tough fight you haven’t lost a round. Are you hungry for some tougher competition?
MH: I was supposed to be fighting Mark McKray this Friday but have now found out he’s pulled out and I will be fighting Ibrar Riyaz. Riyaz doesn’t look that good on paper, but for a last minute replacement he will be a good opponent. In terms of tougher competition, I basically fight who ever Dave (Coldwell) puts in front of me. It’s not my place to say who I should be fighting.
I clock up essential rounds and experience irrespective who I fight. The fight with Ronnie Clark was also a last minute replacement, and only good things came from that fight. I learned a hell of a lot. A rematch is definitely on the cards! Two good southpaws.
PZ: Tell us about your best boxing attributes.
MH: I move my head well, good foot work, and very fast hands. I’d like to say I’m a good all rounder though.
PZ: Assuming you win on Friday, where would you like to be in 12 months time?
MH: I’d like to still be undefeated and challenging for a Central Area Title and then
an English Title. I’d like to be in top ten rankings within the UK.
PZ: The lightweight division is a very competitive one. Are there any other lightweights in the UK that you would like to fight at some point soon?
MH: Anyone in the top ten. I look at the guys currently up there, and apart from Ricky Burns who did brilliant on Saturday, I would certainly feel confident enough to share a ring with them at some point in the near future and really believe I would do well against them.
PZ: The best lightweight in the world in your opinion?
MH: Marquez (Juan Manuel) is my hero and I would have to say him. However, I believe he has moved up from lightweight, so would have to go with Antonio DeMarco. He’s also a southpaw like myself!
PZ: Do you model your style on anybody?
MH: I wouldn’t say I model my style on one particular fighter. I have a handful of fighters I watch on YouTube who I really admire and take their best moves to the gym, give them a go in front of the mirror and in sparring, and if they work I try and add them to my repertoire.
PZ: Tell us about the team around you.
MH: Obviously Dave Coldwell promoting. My trainer is Jamie Kennedy. He’s loves boxing and wants to be the one of the best trainers in the world. He’s constantly thinking of new ways and techniques to improve his fighters and is an inspiration. The other guy in my corner is Mark Bryan as my strength and conditioner, and Ian Baines who will is a die hard trainer and will come and meet you at any hour of the day to train you, come rain wind or shine.
PZ: Your thoughts on Freddie Flintoff becoming a pro boxer?
MH: I don’t 100% agree with it. I think it’s more a celebrity showcase as opposed to genuine interest of the sport. He was a great cricket player and I think he should leave it at that. He’s 34 now and I wish him all the best if he really wants to pursue the sport, but I personally don’t wholeheartedly agree with it.
PZ: Marquez fights Pacquiao for the 4th time. Who wins?
MH: I think he beats Manny. There’s certain fighters who just have your number and I think Marquez is all wrong for Pacquiao and will always come off looking the better fighter. In the same way Norton looked better against Ali every time, but again never won all the decisions.
PZ: Where did the name ‘Maxi’ come from when your first name is actually Danny?
MH: When I filled in my forms to turn pro, they sent them back and said, sorry, we already have a Danny Hughes registered. If you can add something extra to your name, kind of like a stage name, they would complete the registration. I liked the name Seth at first, but then my mum mentioned my granddad’s nickname was called Maxi and was one of the most popular guys in the village. So I went with his name and love it!
PZ: Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
MH: I’m a massive film geek! More of a shocker though is that I’m coming out to a Justin Bieber song on my way to the ring this Friday!