European champion Joe Hughes wants the British belt
Malmesbury man targets another away day win on March 30
Joe Hughes (17-3-1) is determined to win the British Super-Lightweight title at the second time of asking.
He was left frustrated and angry after 12 battling rounds against former British Champion Tyrone Nurse at the Leicester Arena in 2017 that resulted in a draw. Hughes is still convinced that he won the fight by two rounds and believes his former amateur rival was saved by the judges.
The Malmesbury fighter gets a second shot at the Lord Lonsdale crown when he clashes with Matchroom fighter Robbie Davies Jr (17-1) at The M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on March 30, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.
Since his first attempt at the British title, Hughes has gone on to claim the European title against Andrea Scarpa in a career-best win on away soil in Italy, but insists the British title has been the belt he has wanted most since turning pro in 2010.
“Winning the British title has always been a goal of mine as a professional boxer," said Hughes. "Ever since I started boxing it’s been the belt that I wanted. I think it's the same for all British fighters, it's the most prestigious belt out there and I'm excited to be going for it again later this month.
"Obviously I've won the European title which is a bigger belt in terms of rankings and things like that, but the British belt is special and to win it would be a huge honour. In a way I feel like I'm already a British Champion but it would be nice to finally get my hands on the belt.
"I should already have it. I drew for it last time I challenged for it. I thought I won the fight and most people thought I won the fight. I thought I beat Tyrone by two rounds when we fought back in 2017. He was a 9-1 ON favourite and I think the media couldn't believe how the fight went.
"I felt I was hitting the cleaner shots and more of them. We wanted the rematch but it never materialised. Now I've got another chance to win it and I'm confident of taking it home with me this time. I'm going to win clearly enough so that the judges can't give it any other way."
28-year-old Hughes, 17-3-1, has travelled all over the country as an away fighter, winning the Southern Area title against Londoner Phillip Bowes at The O2 and then the English title against Anthony Upton in Walsall, and the Wiltshire man is relishing another away day, this time on Merseyside.
"I'm away from home in his backyard but that doesn't bother me at all. It's a huge show for Liverpool and there's some great Liverpudlian talent on the card. I'm sure the place will be packed to the rafters with scousers and I'm excited by that. I've just been to Italy where the place was packed with Italians and I still came away with the win so going to Liverpool doesn't faze me.
"Liverpool is a great boxing city and I haven't fought there since I was an amateur so I'm looking forward to going back. Obviously he's going to have more support in there than me but I'll be bringing as many as possible with me. I'm not fazed by going away, I've done it plenty of times now and it's nothing new to me."
Hughes vs. Davies Jr is part of a huge night of action in Liverpool.
Main event sees former WBO Super-Welterweight World Champion Liam Smith make his long-awaited Liverpool homecoming against Sam Eggington.
Former Great Britain teammates Anthony Fowler and Scott Fitzgerald look to settle their longstanding feud in a dynamite Super-Welterweight clash.
Popular Heavyweight David Price takes on the unbeaten Kash Ali in his first fight in Liverpool for nearly there years as he looks to make a fresh charge on the Heavyweight division following his win over Tom Little at The O2.
Liverpool’s Tom Farrell challenges Leytonstone’s Philip Bowes for the Commonwealth Super-Lightweight crown. There’s also action for rising Liverpool Cruiserweight talent Craig Glover, ‘Miss GB’ Natasha Jonas and undefeated Super-Lightweight Ged ‘G-Man’ Carroll.