He bids to take the belt off Anthony Yigit on Saturday night – and don’t expect to see the 27 year old from Malmesbury in Wiltshire throw too many right hands at the champion in the fight screened live on Channel Five.
Because he was born with Erb’s palsy – paralysis of the arm due to nerve damage – his right arm is three inches shorter than his left and while that means he starts every fight at a big disadvantage, Hughes says he’s developed what he calls “a unique style” that’s taken him to 15 wins in 18 fights (one draw).
“I have a style he hasn’t seen before,” said Hughes.
“He (Yigit) has had lots of amateur fights (140) and will think he can figure me out – but I have a unique style.
“I mostly use my left hand and I’m much better with my left hand than most people are.
“People get out of the ring after sparring or fighting me saying how strange it was.
“It’s different to what they have seen before.
“I win fights with my defence, brain – and my left hand.
“My timing with my left hand is better than most fighters have. Because I’m short for the weight, I’ve always had to out jab taller opponents and learned how to do it. It’s all about when you throw the punch.”
Hughes has been developing his boxing IQ since he was eight years old.
“I used to have physio on my arm every day and when you’re a kid, it’s painful and boring,” he said.
“You want to be running around screaming and smashing into things, so my dad took me to martial arts lessons when I was five years old.
“He thought it was physio I would enjoy!
“I wasn’t into all the semi-contact stuff, I liked punching, and my dad took me to the boxing gym when I was eight.”
Hughes won the ABA light-welterweight title in 2010 and turned pro under Frank – now Kellie – Maloney, who reckoned he had found “a new Ricky Hatton.”
Maloney lost his television deal and Hughes went back to fighting for ticket money on small-hall shows.
He didn’t sell enough tickets when he fought Anthony Hardy for the English championship in Bath a couple of years ago – and didn’t get paid a penny.
Hughes has subsequently pushed Jack Catterall in a good fight – and drawn with Tyrone Nurse in a British-title challenge in Leicester in April.
Hughes says he “100 per cent” thought he beat Nurse, Andy O’Kane, his trainer and father in law, had him three rounds up at the end – and the decision definitely could have gone his way.
Hughes clearly started better and in the close rounds in the second half of the fight when Nurse shrugged off his lethargy, he still had his moments.
Hughes was hoping the Board would order a rematch, but Nurse went on to lose his belt to Catterall and out of the blue, Hughes gets this shot . . .
The Board did pair him with Johnny Coyle in a British-title eliminator – and Hughes has sympathy for the Essex left hander.
“I feel a bit sorry for Johnny.
“I’ve been in the position he’s in. I’ve had fights fall through myself. I know it’s not easy . . .”
There are clearly no hard feelings. Coyle has actually sparred Hughes in the countdown to this fight with the Swedish southpaw.
Hughes admits he’s taking “a huge leap up” in Leicester – from domestic level to a world-rated opponent – and says he’s happy to be fighting “a good champion for a proper European title” – and in front of a massive audience.
Promoter Barry McGuigan – and Channel Five – hope viewing figures will top 1 million for a show that also features Chantelle Cameron fighting for the vacant IBO lightweight championship and a likely fight-of-the-year contender between muscular Midlands super-middleweights Jahmaine Smyle and Lennox Clarke.
Josh Taylor will be at ringside and Hughes said: “I know what the plan is.
“The plan is for Anthony to win well and build a fight with Josh Taylor.
“I’m going to spoil that.
“People tend to think that if you’re not on television, you can’t be any good.
“You get written off a lot by the boxing press when they haven’t even seen you fight!
“This is a massive opportunity for me.”
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