Maxi Hughes is back - and he means business
I have realised I am not super lightweight, says Maxi Hugehs
A bruised and deflated Maxi Hughes came to a decision as he sat in the waiting room at a Dublin hospital's A&E department.
There would be no more experimenting in the super lightweight division.
The South Yorkshire southpaw had just been stopped in five painful rounds by unbeaten Irishman Pierce O'Leary.
Hughes had gone up five pounds from his normal category of lightweight, in the hope of winning the vacant IBO super-lightweight title at Dublin's 3Arena, in March.
But O'Leary was naturally bigger and stronger and it all ended with Hughes being blue-lighted to hospital.
"I have realised I am not super lightweight" says Maxi, who chief supports Dalton Smith v Alberto Puello at Sheffield Arena on October 24.
"After the weigh-in and by the time we reached the ring O'Leary had almost a stone in weight advantage on me.
"My face didn't hold up to that weight. My eye got smashed in, was swollen shut, and my ear drum was gone.
"I had an x ray and there were not any breaks, thankfully."
Nor was his ear drum perforated, which meant Maxi would soon be able to regain training, this time for a clash with Guildford's Giorgio Visioli, who has an 11-0-0 record.
While the bout will be at his preferred weight, it is a stiff task for the home fighter.
There is an age disparity to consider too. Hughes is 36, Visioli is 23.
But Maxi is not concerned.
"I feel I was late in hitting my peak, at around 32-33, I am a late bloomer" he said. "I might be the oldest guy in a hill sprint but I still come first!
"I look after myself between fights, I am not a big drinker I don't eat bad food I am quite obsessed with making sure I am always active.
"I owe it (his conditioning) to living the life. If you eat rubbish, you feel rubbish. I know how good it feels to be eating clean and living clean.
"For the last few years have just eaten whole foods, stayed away from takeaways, and just feel good. And it will be good to get back to lightweight."
Visioli is the English champion at 135 pounds, and has Hughes' respect.
"He is billed as the next up and coming fighter. And some are looking at me as the has-been former champion who has been there seen it and done it.
"On their side they are hoping they have got the timing right but from my side I have to show the young pup he isn't quite ready yet.
"He has a good amateur style, fast hands, hands-down, sometimes, relies on his reflexes for his defence and has done everything right so far.
"I have watched pretty much all of his career on the telly - I think he's domestic level so it is down to me to say 'no...' and show he is not ready to go beyond that yet."