The man Maxi Hughes trusts above everyone else
Maxi Hughes has no problem traveling to Leeds to work with coach Sean O'Hagan
Some of the best boxing coaches in the world ply their trade in South Yorkshire.
But former world champion Maxi Hughes - in training camp for a ten-rounder on Dalton Smith's undercard at Sheffield Arena on October 24 - is quite happy to commute to Leeds every day.
He has such a fondness and respect for his coach Sean O'Hagan that, for him, it's a no-brainer.
But he admits that it was only when O'Hagan suffered a heart attack on the day of a fight in Dubai last December that he realised how much he relied on him.
O'Hagan had fallen ill a few hours before the Doncaster southpaw fought Bakhdour Usmonov.
After the cardiac issue, he had an operation in the United Arab Emirates and then further surgery back in the UK.
Now he is back helping Hughes prepare to fight unbeaten Giorgio Visioli on the Smith v Alberto Puello Matchroom show.
Asked why he has stayed loyal to O'Hagan, the 36-year-old says: "It is all about our relationship. He is the salt of the earth, my mate and one who brings the best out of me.
"His personality gels well with mine; there is a level of comfort there.
"I was talking to my wife the other night about his heart attack in Dubai. It was only then that I realised how much I needed him with me, especially on fight day and in the changing rooms.
"He has been doing corners for me since 2014 and there is a lot of familiarity there. I travel from Donny to his gym and it has never crossed my mind to go more local.
"When I was working on the tools I would drive all over, so it is not the worst thing."
O'Hagan has made a full recovery, says Hughes, who lives in Haxey.
"He had four stents put in, in Dubai, and when he got home he had another one. He says he has had a new exhaust fitted and a full engine re-fit!"
On a serious note, Maxi says his coach's skillset has always been underestimated, but behind the scenes he is "the cleverest man in the room."
Hughes will be competing with Aldershot's Visioli, 23, for the vacant WBC International Silver Lightweight title.
That weight division is his favourite - he was stopped in five rounds by Pierce O'Leary for the vacant IBO World Super Lightweight strap in Dublin in March.
"I only had two weeks' notice for that fight, but I have had eight or nine this time and have gone through the process building up slowly" said Hughes.
"We are well into the thick of it now, I have been hitting all the numbers and will be tapering down soon.
"I have proved to myself time and time again I can do a 12-round distance and I have done everything I need to do."
Visioli, similarly, is looking forward to the test.
"I think that it will bring the best out of me. Maxi has boxed for world title eliminators, so he will bring the best out of me, he will bring my style out, my counter-punching.
"I was offered a few opponents and I said ‘yes’ first to Maxi.
"I wanted the hardest challenge, so I can show the world what I can do even more."