British Lightweight title: Paul Hyland jnr (20-2) v Max Hughes 22-5-2) (tonight, Bolton, live on YouTube and ESPN+)
PAUL Hyland junior hopes to follow in the footsteps of James Tennyson and Anthony Cacace by winning the British title at the second attempt when he takes on Yorkshire hard nut Maxi Hughes in Bolton tonight.
The title was vacated by Tennyson earlier this year and Hyland gets his second crack at it after his first ended in disappointment back in June 2018 when he travelled to Lewis Ritson’s backyard and was stopped by the big-punching Geordie after some furious early exchanges.
Despite showing impressive commitment, Hyland has struggled for form since his jaw was broken during his win against Stephen Ormond back in 2017. That injury robbed his career of some momentum and led to that loss to Ritson and another, against Francesco Patera, in June 2019.
But he has win 20 wins on his card too and if he produces his high-energy, box-and-move best tonight he will certainly fancy his chances.
But Hughes has to start favourite. After previous losses at super-featherweight against Sam Bowen and Martin Joseph Ward, this will be his third British title challenge. He recovered impressively from his setbacks and turned the corner last August when he boxed clever to get a unanimous decision win over Dubliner Jono Carroll. He kicked on from that by winning the WBC international lightweight belt in October, so he’ll be brim-full of confidence tonight and fought three times last year while Hyland hasn’t boxed in almost 21 months.
Hughes said: "I'm very excited to be fighting for the Lonsdale belt. It’s such a beautiful and prestigious title and I’m looking forward to adding it to my collection.
"When I got the phone call from Lee Eaton about stepping in for this fight I accepted immediately, there was absolutely no hesitation. It’s been very refreshing over the last six months, almost like an 'I told you so' moment I’ve had with myself.
"I’ve always known what I’m capable of and it was just a matter of delivering it and getting the result. It will be the same on Friday when I win the British title.
"I feel I know enough about Hyland Jnr. I’m expecting the very best version of him come fight night. I anticipate he’ll bring the fight to me but I believe I’ll have an answer for everything."
Hughes won’t out-punch Hyland and shouldn’t out-work him but he is a tidy, skilful boxer who surprised Carroll – a former world title challenger who went into that fight after dominating albeit faded force Scott Quigg – with his deceptive accuracy from range and his movement.
“I want to replicate what Tenny (James Tennyson) and Anto (Anthony Cacace) did,” says Hyland.
“They both won their British title second-time-out and I want to do that. He’s very experienced and he was active last year but I’m focussed in my head on what needs to be done and I’m sure that I’ll get in there and do the business.
“Hughes is going into his third try for a British title and he probably feels confident and feels like he’s on a roll but I intend to put an end to that. He might feel he’s the favourite because he’s been more active than me and he beat Jono Carroll but that won’t matter on the night.
“There’ll only be me and him in the ring and that’s when it counts, so we’ll see who wants it more.”
Meanwhile, on the undercard, Keady lightweight Sean Duffy (3-0) returns to action against experienced Birmingham native Paul Holt (7-9). However, a knee injury has forced Padraig McCrory to withdraw from his clash with Germaine Brown.
