Maxi Hughes has told Kid Galahad to prepare for life after boxing as he defends his IBO lightweight world title at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand).
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Hughes (25-2-2, 5 KOs) is defending his title for the second time, after widely outpointing fellow Brit Ryan Walsh in March in his first defense, following his shutout win over the dangerous Giovanni Straffon to get the belt last September.
‘Maximus’ is riding the crest of a wave, undefeated since November 2019 and enjoying the ‘Cinderella Man’ status that has come with his impressive form, which has seen him linked with big battles against Californian star Ryan Garcia and former Ruler World Jorge Linares.
However, the man from Rossington has put those thoughts aside for this South Yorkshire derby, with former IBF featherweight leader Galahad () stepping up two weights on his return to the ring and looking for an immediate return to the table. top boxer, but his 32-year-old opponent says Saturday night could be the end of the line for the slick Ingle Gym.
“I hope he has a plan for life after boxing because after Saturday night he has nowhere to go,” Hughes said.
“He was a featherweight champion and looking to go to Super-Featherweight, so I’m surprised he’s jumping two weights to face me. It’s a high profile fight, he’s been an IBF champion and they generally think highly of their champions so they can rank him high so beating KG should improve my ranking. It would be nice to get a top five ranking with them and move on to a bigger fight. It’s the same every time for me, win this one, 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. It gets in my way to provide 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-caliber opponent, that’s really getting the juices flowing.
“I have faith in my ability and in my position in the team. I’m not one to make bold predictions: I just want a win, come how it comes, and I think I’m going to get it.”
On a stacked card, Denaby Main’s Terri Harper (12-1-1, 6 KOs) jumps in weight to challenge Scotland’s Hannah Rankin (12-5, 3 KOs) for her IBO and WBA junior welterweight world titles in a Intriguing England. shock vs. Scotland.
Former IBO and WBC super featherweight world champion Harper lost her titles to American Alycia Baumgardner on the undercard of Galahad vs. Martinez last year before capturing the WBA intercontinental lightweight title against Yamila Belen Abellaneda in March.
Rankin captured gold by beating Maria Lindberg over 10 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur FC’s Banqueting Hall in November 2021 before defending her belts against Mexico’s Alejandra Ayala at The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, in May.
Birmingham heavyweight prospect Solomon Dacres (4-0, 1 KO) meets Dominic Akinlade (9-3-1, 4 KO) in ten rounds, former British team Olympian Cheavon Clarke (2-0 , 2 KO) looks to maintain his perfect start to life in the cruiserweight division against Argentine Marcos Nicolas Karalitzky (7-5-2, 2 KOs), Alnwick welterweight talent Cyrus Pattinson (4-0, 2 KOs) has his fifth fight in the paid ranks, new Matchroom super welterweight signing Junaid Bostan (2-0, 2 KOs) is aiming for three knockouts in three fights, Mansfield super bantamweight prospect Nico Leivars (2- 0-1) returns to action after her technical draw in Sheffield and Wigan lightweight Rhiannon Dixon (5-0) fights for the first time under the STN Sports banner.
