After outclassing and outpointing Ireland’s Gary Cully in Monte Carlo last December, Maxi Hughes, 28-7-2 (6 KOs), began scouting around for the type of opponent who would help him maintain his late career momentum and push him back towards a major world title fight.

Talk of a fight with the excellent Cuban, Andy Cruz, petered out whilst Josh Padley signed a promotional deal with Matchroom and will move in a different direction after his brave, late notice effort against WBC lightweight champion, Shakur Stevenson, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia two weeks ago.

Eventually, Archie Sharp, 25-1 (9 KOs), answered the call and will take on Hughes on GBM’s open air show at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium on May 23rd. The event will be televised by DAZN.

After spending years in the higher reaches of the WBO junior lightweight rankings, Sharp lost his previous outing when current European 130lb champion, Ryan Garner, beat him last July but the 29 year-old had been plagued by inactivity.

Having shed any ring rust, Sharp will make the step up to lightweight for the fight with Hughes but should be better suited to 135lbs at this stage of his career.

Hughes could have chosen any number of opponents for the date but the 35 year-old Yorkshireman picked somebody who has plenty to prove.

“I said I need somebody who's going to give me that fire,” Hughes said.

“It went out to a few people but Archie jumped at the chance and I know he's moving up to lightweight but he was number one with the WBO. He was mixing in them circles with Shakur [Stevenson], [Emanuel] Navarrete. He’s been talked about and in negotiation with them so he's been up there himself so he's probably left feeling, ‘I’ve still got to prove myself’ which that's what we want.

“That's what the fans want and that’s what I need as a a fighter. Someone who's going to come and give it me like that, which is going to be best out of me.”

Hughes was always a respected operator but, over the past five years, has elevated his game to an entirely different level.

In July 2023 he came out on the wrong end of a controversial majority decision and lost his IBO lightweight title to former unified champion, George Kambosos, but the only man to beat him conclusively over the course of his last 11 fights is dangerous Mexican, William Zepeda, last March.

Hughes encountered horrendous visa issues in the fortnight before that fight, making a tough assignment even more difficult. At one point he was deported and sent directly back to the UK after landing in Las Vegas with the wrong paperwork. He was eventually stopped after four rounds of the world title eliminator.

He bounced back well and once again proved himself to be beyond British level by dismantling Cully in Monaco.

Hughes’ fortunes changed when he linked up with Sean O’Hagan - father and trainer of two-time featherweight world champion, Josh Warrington - and slowly but surely, the successes have changed his mindset.

“I never quite believed in myself whereas it’s the opposite now,” he said. “I don't over overhype myself but I’m so confident in my own ability just from what I've gone and done. I’ve gone over to America a couple of times, to Monaco and been the underdog a lot and come out on top so that obviously gives me massive confidence.

“How I view other fighters, I used to put them on pedestals whereas now I see them as either equal or below me. I need that and that's how I operate and I think that's what’s allowed me to keep operating. I don't feel like I look at or perform like I'm a 35 year-old.”