Maxi Hughes Continues to Roll with an Impressive Stoppage Win
All it takes is one fight, one shining moment to turn a career around. That is the case for junior lightweight Maxi Hughes (23-5-2, 5 KOs). For most of his career, the 31-year-old from Rossington, Yorkshire, England was viewed as little more than a journeyman. Yes, he was a competent fighter who could handle himself in the ring. But the prevailing thought was he had neither the punching power nor the passion to progress to the next level.
Then came the night of August 12, 2020. Hughes faced world-ranked and former junior lightweight world title challenger Jono Carroll. The Yorkshireman was a huge underdog. Carroll was coming off a career-best win over the former 122-pound champion, Scott Quigg. However, it was the Yorkshireman who upset the odds. He outworked and outhustled Carroll on the way to a unanimous decision win.
Hughes followed that performance with a unanimous decision victory over unbeaten Viktor Kotochigov in October 2020. Suddenly, the grizzled vet nicknamed “Maximus” is on a wave of momentum.
Paul Hyland Jr (20-3, 7 KOs) is trying to pick up the pieces. After winning his first eighteen bouts as a pro, he faced fellow unbeaten fighter Lewis Ritson on June 16, 2018. Hyland Jr v Ritson was for the British Lightweight title. It was a disaster for Hyland. He was knocked down three times and fished in the very first round. Three fights later, the fighter from Belfast, Northern Ireland was TKO’d by Francesco Patara in June 2019. He has not fought since, and his career is rebound mode.
Hughes and Hyland will now face off for the vacant British Lightweight belt at the Bolton Whites Hotel, in Bolton, England. A win for Hughes means more significant fights and even being ranked by the world sanctioning organizations. This is Hyland’s second attempt at the British title. A win revitalizes his career. A loss for him means a serious evaluation of whether he should carry on or call it a day.
COOL AND CALCULATED
Hughes is a disciplined, skilled southpaw who likes to keep the fight on the outside. He started matters getting off with the jab. He was also doing some slick bodywork on the inside. Taller and looking like the larger man, Hyland fought on the front foot. He attempted to close the distance to make this a rough, physical fight.
The action picked up in the third. Hyland picked up the pressure, focusing on getting inside. However, Hughes was dressed down in tight defense to avoid shots. He also did a terrific job of turning and spinning to create angles, then landing with straight lefts and right-hand uppercuts.
A straight left to the head seemed to stun Hyland midway through the third. The fourth saw Hughes continue the success of the previous round. He also began to fight more in the pocket, working very well on the inside.
POUNDING THE BODY
Hughes’ focus on the body paid serious dividends in round six. Just when it seemed that Hyland was coming on, he was hurt badly with a left hand to the body. The last half of that round saw Hughes bombard his foe with body shots. At the end of the round, Hyland seemed to go down along the ropes from an accumulation of shots. However, referee Mark Lyson did not rule it a knockdown and seemed to warn Hughes!
At this point, Hyland was exhibiting poor body language. Then, a strange moment happened in the eighth. With 1:45 left in the round, Hyland bent over and turned his back after being hurt by a Hughes left hand.
In this sport, you must protect yourself at all times. While Hyland did turn his back, his knee never touched the canvas. Referee Lyson said, “fight on”. Hughes then rushed forward and flattened Hyland with a hard left to the chin with 1:20 to go in the round.
It is another impressive performance for Hughes. He had his way from beginning to end. You can see he is fighting with newfound confidence. The Brit is now a major player in the UK and European lightweight scene.
For Hyland, this was a bad loss. He was not only out-boxed but also punished. Now could be the time for him to have a come to Jesus with himself to see if he wants to carry on.
By: Bakari Simpson
