Maxi Hughes did not hold back with his comments on the famous Ingle gym ahead of his showdown with their charge Kid Galahad this Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield.
Hughes, who will put his IBO world title on the line, told the Doncaster Free Press he has always sensed a certain arrogance from those involved with the gym, headed by Dom Ingle, son of the legendary trainer Brendan.
“I have respect for him as a fighter and that’s where it stops.”
“I find the Ingle’s a bit arrogant and rude. They seem to have a chip on their shoulder.”
“They sort of look down on you.”
Rossington native Hughes has enjoyed an incredible renaissance over the past few years of his career, winning six fights in a row and propelling his name right to the top of the domestic lightweight division.
And he will be hoping to have caught former featherweight world champion Galahad at just the right time, as he returns to the ring for the first time since his harrowing knockout loss at the hands of Kiko Martinez last November.
“He’s going to say he’s not got demons, but that sort of knockout will carry demons.”
“He’s going to have demons regarding his chin – can he take a shot? Has that dented his confidence?
The clash between Hughes and Galahad will now be top of the bill in Sheffield, with Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara postponed due to a bicep injury suffered by the Nottingham man.
With both men now 32, it seems difficult to envisage the loser on Saturday night headlining cards again. That said, the stakes for this particular Yorkshire derby could not be much higher.