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By Ron Lewis
Sat Aug 29, 2020
Sat Aug 29, 2020
Sam Maxwell scored the biggest win of his professional career, as he claimed a unanimous points decision over former European champion Joe Hughes in their super lightweight ten-rounder at the BT Sport Studios in London.
It was a close fight throughout. The more work came from Maxwell, who generally led off and had success with straight shots. But at times the quality shots were from Hughes, who found holes in Maxwell’s defence and was never fazed when under attack.
Michael Alexander scored it 98-92, which seemed wide, while Marcus McDonnell and Terry O’Connor both had it 97-94.
But it was a fight with lots of tight rounds. Maxwell forced the pace and had success with the right. Hughes looked comfortable at close quarters and found Maxwell an easy target with the left jab and hook early on.
Maxwell, who was making the second defence of his “WBO European” title, upped the pace in the third and got through with a hard right hand, but Hughes landed a left hook early in the fourth and was picking Maxwell off.
Maxwell twice went the distance with Vassily Lomachenko in the World Series of Boxing and he pressed the pace again in the fifth, switching the attack to the body, which made Hughes step back for the first time. The smaller Hughes often ducked low to stay tight and lept out with his left hook or jab.
By the sixth round, Maxwell was getting better at timing Hughes’s attack and countering over the top with a right and he started to get on top by leading off and landing one-twos, while Hughes was having to work harder to land.
Hughes was still in the fight, though, and he caught Maxwell with two good body shots early in the ninth round and dominated the round, despite Maxwell’s attempts to force him backwards. But Maxwell finished the stronger and ground out his victory.
“If I made any mistakes he has a left hook that could knock out anyone in the division,” Maxwell said. “From the first round I was switched on to make sure he landed the least shots possible.
“I boxed one of the top lads in Britain and that bought the best out of me. I’m glad he gave me the opportunity to fight him. I felt I boxed really well, I’m really, really happy with my performance.”
Hughes did not argue with the decision, but hinted that his days of top-level boxing might be coming to an end.
“I’ve had the EBU title and in my opinion the only thing bigger than that would be a world title,” Hughes said. “I’m not going to get a world title shot now, am I? So I’ll go back to the drawing board and see what happens. Who knows?”
https://www.boxingscene.com/sam-maxwell-turns-back-game-joe-hughes-results--151334
It was a close fight throughout. The more work came from Maxwell, who generally led off and had success with straight shots. But at times the quality shots were from Hughes, who found holes in Maxwell’s defence and was never fazed when under attack.
Michael Alexander scored it 98-92, which seemed wide, while Marcus McDonnell and Terry O’Connor both had it 97-94.
But it was a fight with lots of tight rounds. Maxwell forced the pace and had success with the right. Hughes looked comfortable at close quarters and found Maxwell an easy target with the left jab and hook early on.
Maxwell, who was making the second defence of his “WBO European” title, upped the pace in the third and got through with a hard right hand, but Hughes landed a left hook early in the fourth and was picking Maxwell off.
Maxwell twice went the distance with Vassily Lomachenko in the World Series of Boxing and he pressed the pace again in the fifth, switching the attack to the body, which made Hughes step back for the first time. The smaller Hughes often ducked low to stay tight and lept out with his left hook or jab.
By the sixth round, Maxwell was getting better at timing Hughes’s attack and countering over the top with a right and he started to get on top by leading off and landing one-twos, while Hughes was having to work harder to land.
Hughes was still in the fight, though, and he caught Maxwell with two good body shots early in the ninth round and dominated the round, despite Maxwell’s attempts to force him backwards. But Maxwell finished the stronger and ground out his victory.
“If I made any mistakes he has a left hook that could knock out anyone in the division,” Maxwell said. “From the first round I was switched on to make sure he landed the least shots possible.
“I boxed one of the top lads in Britain and that bought the best out of me. I’m glad he gave me the opportunity to fight him. I felt I boxed really well, I’m really, really happy with my performance.”
Hughes did not argue with the decision, but hinted that his days of top-level boxing might be coming to an end.
“I’ve had the EBU title and in my opinion the only thing bigger than that would be a world title,” Hughes said. “I’m not going to get a world title shot now, am I? So I’ll go back to the drawing board and see what happens. Who knows?”
https://www.boxingscene.com/sam-maxwell-turns-back-game-joe-hughes-results--151334