Maxi Hughes: "I hope Kid Galahad has a plan for life after boxing"

Source: Matchroom

23/09/2022

Maxi Hughes: "I hope Kid Galahad has a plan for life after boxing"

Maxi Hughes has told Kid Galahad to prepare for life after boxing as he defends his IBO lightweight title at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand). Hughes (25-2-2, 5 KOs) defends his title for the second time, after widely outpointing fellow Brit Ryan Walsh in March in his first defense, following his shutout win over Giovanni Straffon to land the belt last September. ‘Maximus’ is riding the crest of a wave, unbeaten since November 2019 and enjoying the ‘Cinderella Man’ status that has come with his current win streak.
 
The Rossington man has put those thoughts to one side for this South Yorkshire derby though, with former IBF featherweight ruler Galahad stepping up two weights in his ring return and looking for an immediate return to boxing’s top table – but his 32 year-old opponent says Saturday night could be the end of the line for the Ingle Gym slickster. “I hope he has a plan in place for life after boxing because after Saturday night he’s got nowhere to go,” said Hughes.
 
“He was featherweight champion, and he was looking to go to super feather, so I am surprised that he’s jumping up two weights to face me. It’s a high-profile fight, he’s been IBF champion and they usually regard their champions highly, so they may rank him highly, so beating KG should improve my ranking. It would be nice to get a top five ranking with them and move towards to a bigger fight. It’s the same every time for me, get this one won, and a bigger fight could be next.
 
“I don’t take boxing personally, this is my full time job and that’s where my mind is at. He’s in the way of me providing for my family. I’m the underdog and I love that. He was a world champion in his last fight so he’s a high-calibre opponent, that’s really getting the juices flowing. I have faith in my ability and where I am in my team. I’m not one for bold predictions – I just want a win, however it comes, and I believe I am going to get it.”
 
On a stacked undercard, Denaby Main’s Terri Harper (12-1-1, 6 KOs) leaps up in weight to challenge Scotland’s Hannah Rankin (12-5, 3 KOs) for her IBO and WBA junior middleweight titles in an intriguing England vs. Scotland clash.
 
Former IBO and WBC super featherweight champion Harper lost her titles at the hands of the USA’s Alycia Baumgardner on the undercard of Galahad vs. Martinez last year before defeating lightweight Yamila Belen Abellaneda in March.
 
Rankin captured gold by decisioning Maria Lindberg over ten rounds at the Tottenham Hotspur FC Banqueting Hall in November 2021 before defending her belts against Mexico’s Alejandra Ayala at The SSE Hydro, Glasgow in May.
 
Birmingham heavyweight Solomon Dacres (4-0, 1 KO) meets Dominic Akinlade (9-3-1, 4 KOs) over ten rounds... former Team GB Olympian Cheavon Clarke (2-0, 2 KOs) looks to maintain his perfect start to life in the cruiserweight division against Argentina’s Marcos Nicolas Karalitzky (7-5-2, 2 KOs)... Alnwick welterweight Cyrus Pattinson (4-0, 2 KOs) has his fifth fight in the paid ranks... new Matchroom junior middleweight signing Junaid Bostan (2-0, 2 KOs) aims to make it three knockouts in three fights... Mansfield 122-pounder Nico Leivars (2-0-1) returns to action after his technical draw in Sheffield and... Wigan lightweight Rhiannon Dixon (5-0) fights for the first time under the STN Sports banner.