Maxi Hughes, a seasoned boxer, has faced numerous challenges and setbacks in his career. After intense battles in Oklahoma and Las Vegas, he is now all set to take his show on the road again this weekend. Let's delve into his journey and see how he is preparing for the upcoming fights.

"Maxi Hughes' Resilience in the Boxing World"

Return to the Big Leagues

Maxi Hughes, 34 years old and with a record of 27-7-2 (6 KOs), is set to fight Gary Cully, 18-1 (10 KOs), in Monte Carlo on Saturday night. This lightweight fight holds significant meaning for him as he aims to bring a turbulent year to a successful end. In March, he was supposed to face William Zepeda in an eliminator for the WBA and IBF titles, but serious visa issues derailed his preparations. Despite the setback, he remained determined and used the experience to strengthen his resolve.

After the Zepeda fight in Vegas, Hughes said, "It hadn't dampened my spirits and knocked any ambition out of me. It just made me more hungry. I don't want to finish like that. I'm going to get back and get back to work." This motivation led him to get back in the gym and find opportunities to prove himself.

A Test in September

In September, Hughes got a real test when he fought Efstathios Antonas. Antonas, an unknown but ambitious fighter, gave Hughes a tough fight. Hughes took the fight to get a camp and a win under his belt.

In the first round, Hughes thought, "Why the fuck did I say I wanted a fight like this? This is hard work." But he dug deep and eventually brought things to a nasty, conclusive finish in the sixth and final round. He said, "I got the job done and I felt terrible after, but I think he understood. I sent him a message after, and he said he was all right."

Opportunity in Monte Carlo

Matchroom's Eddie Hearn saw Hughes' fight with Antonas and offered him the chance to fly to Monte Carlo to fight Gary Cully. Hughes couldn't be happier.

He said, "This fight gets a good world ranking and puts me back in the big leagues, as well as Matchroom wanting two options over me after getting the win here. That means there's another year of big fights, so that's motivation to train and make sure I get the job done next week."

Dealing with Cully

Cully is in the midst of his own comeback. He rose through the ranks with spectacular knockouts but has faced challenges since his loss to Jose Felix last May. Hughes got a first-hand look at Cully during his fight with Reece Mould and knows he needs to figure out ways to deal with Cully's size and power.

He said, "I feel like I know everything I need to know about Cully. What's most important is I concentrate on myself and do what I need to do. I use my experience and everything I've gained over the years to make sure I get the win."

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79.