In the seven months that have passed since Hughie lost to Kubrat Pulev in Bulgaria, weโve been working diligently, correcting quite a few flaws and Iโm really looking forward to seeing the new Hughie Fury on Saturday (May 25). We both know this is where he needs to turn the corner.
Take away his age and the physical side of things, what he now needs to understand is that heโs got to switch the lightbulb on and now use that experience he has gained. What I mean by that is he needs to learn from all the experiences he has had so far as a pro, the good and the bad, and use it to his advantage.
Because thatโs what experience is all about. You can have a hundred fights and not learn a thing. Itโs all about learning and doing the things you perhaps didnโt do before.
Against Pulev last October, the cut altered the fight tremendously. It took away Hughieโs game plan. Even so, ignoring the cut, I said to him in sparring many times before that fight, and even years ago, that he needs to get out of a certain way he boxes. Sometimes it takes a while for the penny to drop, but I think itโs good he has had these top-level fights because it shows what he needs to work on.
Whatever happened in Bulgaria, whatever part the cut played, I said to him, โThe performance still isnโt good enough. Youโre lacking in certain fields and thatโs what you need to get a grip of.โ I believe he has now rectified those flaws.
Because of his age, itโs a very difficult balance with Hughie. Bear in mind, though, what he has already done at just 24. He has fought for the world title, fought a final eliminator for the world title, and boxed abroad. Heโs done everything at such a young age. You have to take the positives. Heโs going to get so much value from these fights. We all thought he did enough against Joseph Parker to win but thatโs by the by. In the Pulev fight, he came up short. We all saw what happened there. But Hughie has never jumped out of the ring and said, โDad, that man was just too good for me,โ or, โI felt his power and couldnโt do anything.โ Quite the opposite.
At his age, heโs basically beating himself. Thereโs not an opponent he has fought who has really bothered him or dented his confidence. He knows if it just clicks for him, heโs got it all.
I donโt really know a lot about Chris Norrad, Hughieโs opponent on Saturday. I havenโt seen anything of him. Iโve just looked him up on BoxRec and thatโs about it.
I know he has a winning record but also know he has been beating people with 50/50 records. He hasnโt really fought anybody. I hear he is durable, though, and that he comes to fight. Thatโs as much as I know.
Last week, Deontay Wilder, said a few things about Dominic Breazeale which I thought crossed the line. Heโs a God-fearing man but a God-fearing man wouldnโt come out with stuff like that. I know I certainly wouldnโt.
When you go into a fight against somebody, the last thing you want to see is them badly hurt on the floor. You want to win, yes, but you want your opponent to go home safe and you hope they want the same for you. Iโd like to think all this talk is just heat of the moment stuff with Wilder. He just needs to be careful about what heโs saying. I donโt believe he means it for a second.
That sort of talk wonโt be affecting any opponents, or at least it shouldnโt. Hughie hears all the talk from Wilder and it hasnโt had an impact on him. In fact, you can print this: If Wilder needs an opponent because he canโt get whoever theyโre trying to get next, Hughie will step in and fight him this year. Itโs an easy fight to make. Hughie would fight him in a heartbeat.
Hughie would be an underdog in that one, but I think heโs on the verge of doing special things and I donโt talk lightly. Letโs get Saturday out the way, then get a good opponent for July or September, and if Wilder wants that fight towards the end of the year, or even in September, we would look at it.