MAXI HUGHES has confirmed that an offer has been made to Josh Padley for the two lightweights to collide at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium in the spring.
‘Maximus’ Hughes, 28-7-2 (6 KOs), has rebounded from back-to-back losses against George Kambosos Jr and William Zepeda after outclassing Gary Cully over 10 rounds at the end of last year, and the WBA number five is hoping to secure a spring clash with fellow Yorkshireman Padley, 15-1 (4 KOs).
29-year-old Padley shot to stardom last week, stepping in on three days’ notice to fight pound-for-pound claimant Shakur Stevenson for the WBC world title and despite suffering a ninth-round stoppage, he won over the boxing world with a valiant performance.
Hughes congratulated Padley via Instagram, before confirming that GBM had sent an offer for the two Yorkshire natives to fight later in the year.
“Big well done to Padley last weekend,” Hughes said. “Taking that life-changing opportunity with both hands. Fair play to him, that’s why we’re in this sport.
“You may have seen some rumours that GBM have sent an offer for Padley to fight me in May, those rumours are true, we offered him this fight just before he got the call for Saudi, and then that call to fight Stevenson came, and I understand him taking that, why wouldn’t he?
“They’ve gone back and offered him to fight me at Doncaster’s football ground at the end of May, which would give him a 12–13-week training camp. It makes sense now, this is history for Doncaster, for a small town to have two lightweights ranked across multiple governing bodies in the top 15, it won’t ever happen again.”
Doncaster-born Terri Harper, 15-2-2 (6 KOs), is also set to feature on the card, defending her WBO lightweight world title against German challenger Natalie Zimmerman, 13-0 (3 KOs). The reigning champion will make the first defence of the belt she picked up after outpointing Rhiannon Dixon last year.
