World championship boxing returns to Leeds on Saturday night when Josh Warrington takes on Kiko Martinez for the IBF world featherweight title.
The victor is destined for huge unification fights in what is an exciting 126lb division and for Warrington, it looks like it could be last chance saloon not only to unify, but also pull off the trip to America he has often talked about for his loyal fanbase.
However, after Martinez shocked the world with his sixth round knockout win against Kid Galahad last November, the Spanish veteran has revived his career, and after struggling with the relentless Mauricio Lara last year, there are some fears Warrington could buckle if he does get hit with a Martinez right hand.
Maxi Hughes meanwhile is confident his fellow Yorkshireman can get the win in a fight which can be seen live on DAZN (except Australia and New Zealand).
“He’s [Warrington] more than ready for this, he’s not putting that kind of pressure on himself,” Hughes told DAZN in an exclusive interview.
“Kiko’s coming off a great win, let’s not forget, other than those two right hands he threw which he’s always got in the tank, he was getting beat in every minute of every round.
“Josh isn’t Kid Galahad, he’s switched on, he’s got a bigger fire in his belly so I’m not seeing anything else other than a Josh win.”
Hughes and Warrington do share something in common, both are trained by Sean O’Hagan, Warrington’s father, and while they wouldn’t face each other in a high stakes contest, they have gone head-to-head previously.
Coincidentally it was on the same night as Martinez’s win over Galahad. The pair fought in exhibition bout to stop a small hall show being cancelled and it’s safe to say they were a long way off fighting shape.
“We did at the very last minute,” Hughes recalled.
“I told Josh before, don’t hit me too hard in the stomach, I’ve just had a massive plate of beans on toast and a mince pie and he said, ‘I’m tired and got a bit of a cold, let’s just take it steady’.”
While Hughes will be backing Warrington to become a two-time world champion, he as his own business to attend to on Saturday night when he makes the first defence of his IBO lightweight title against Ryan Walsh.