Maxi Hughes in defining fight against Lewis Sylvester
South Yorkshire veteran Maxi Hughes has lost none of his appetite for big fights or hunger for success as he returns on May 16 on a Frank Warren show.
Just two months after competing for an IBO World Super Lightweight title in Dublin, Hughes will again be battling away on another Queensberry card.
This time he will face Hull's Lewis Sylvester at Doncaster Rovers' Eco-Power Stadium, an event headlined by another local competitor, Dave Allen.
You have to hand it to 36-year-old Hughes, who has had a varied (29-9-2) career built on persistence rather than fast-tracked opportunities.
The former British and IBO lightweight champion has repeatedly rebuilt after setbacks, forcing his way back into contention the hard way.
He has lost his last two fights, to Pierce O'Leary in Ireland in March and Bakhodur Usmonov in Dubai in December, but he has an unquenchable thirst for the big shows.
Even in defeat, Hughes has remained competitive at a high level, stepping up in weight and continuing to test himself against younger opposition.
His last fight at Rovers' stadium was a 12-round points win over Archie Sharp a year ago, when he secured the WBC Silver belt - a victory that underlined his ability to upset fancied fighters and extend his career at title level.
That win was part of a late-career bloom that also saw him claim a victory over Sheffield's former world champion Kid Galahad in 2022, a result that elevated him onto the international stage and opened the door to world title opportunities.
He announced the Sylvester fight on his social media saying: "Go on then I’ll have another run out at the local stadium...get back to winning ways."
Hughes, from Haxey, admits there are "no points for second place in boxing" and he is having to go back to the drawing board to chase the goals he has set himself.
He insists he has done everything the hard way in his chosen sport and is determined to light up the ring as he heads towards the sunset of his career, knowing opportunities at this level are becoming increasingly precious.
He'll need to be on top form against Sylvester, who is eight years younger with just one loss in 19 outings and is viewed as one of the more technically sound operators in the domestic lightweight scene.
The Eco-Power Stadium is a happy hunting ground for him.
He beat Doncaster's Reece Mould there last May to take home the vacant IBO Continental Lightweight belt, showing his ability to perform on away soil in a high-pressure environment.
Sylvester, who has quietly built his record without the same level of exposure as Hughes, will see this as a chance to secure the most significant win of his career.
Victory over a proven name would push him firmly into the British title picture and potentially beyond.
"Big nights like these are what I’m in boxing for… no risk no reward" he says.