MAXI Hughes’ career at the top is far from over, and the Yorkshire Cinderella Man may be in line for another top title. Purse bids have been called for Hughes to take on Laid Douadi, with a deadline of April 16 attached to move things along. Hughes already has a fight lined up against Archie Sharp on May 23 for the WBA Inter-Continental lightweight strap.
The European lightweight title was previously held by Sam Noakes, who won it in April 2024 by defeating Yvan Mendy. Noakes made one defence, five months later, stopping Gianluca Ceglia in eight rounds. On March 27, the EBU circulated information that Noakes had relinquished the title “due to dispute the WBC world championship”.
Laid Douadi was put forward to contest the vacant belt against the first boxer available in the ratings order. That boxer is Maxi Hughes, 28-7-2 (6 KOs), who was last seen breathing fresh life into his long career by dominating Ireland’s Gary Cully over 10 rounds in Monaco. The GBM boxer, who was deemed unlucky to have lost a world title eliminator against George Kambosos in Oklahoma, now has another route to the top.
Laid Douadi holds a thoroughly impressive 26-0-1 record. However, closer inspection shows only two knockouts and a string of opponents with multiple losses on their records.
Douadi, 32, does have a couple of interesting titles on his resume, including the IBF Latino lightweight gong. If the bout was solidified, beating a fighter of Hughes’ calibre will be a tall order. The man trained by Sean O’Hagan holds wins over the likes of Kid Galahad and Ryan Walsh.
