THE EYES of the country’s boxing fraternity may end up transfixed on the O2 Arena on Saturday night – and Joe Hughes is relishing the challenge of attempting to take the next step in his career on one of the biggest stages in British boxing.

The 24-year-old from Malmesbury is finally set to take his long-awaited shot at the Southern Area light-welterweight title as he takes on 30-year-old 2010 Commonwealth Games quarter-finalist Philip Bowes at the O2 Arena.

Hughes, whose original crack at the Southern Area belt was curtailed by illness in July, will be boxing on the undercard of heavyweight star Anthony Joshua’s first-ever title fight, with Welsh WBC international, British and Commonwealth champion Lee Selby also in action in a world title eliminator.

With he and his opponent both retaining near-identical records, Hughes is ready to tackle the toughest test of his career so far, head-on.

“We’ve both won nine fights and I’ve lost one. We’ve both only done ten rounds in our last fight and we’re both looking to progress in our careers,” said Hughes, who won an International Masters title on his last outing in April.

“It’s going to be quite a difficult challenge for me because I think he’s an awkward, rangey fighter. He’s quite tall so he’s going to have that advantage over me, as well as the skills.

“He fought for Jamaica in the Commonwealth Games, so I know that he’s got a good amateur fighter and I think it’s going to be tough.

“But I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t got any injuries and I haven’t been ill – for once.

“Obviously, the O2 is pretty much the biggest venue in British boxing. It’s going to be a huge show and I’m really excited to be fighting on it.

“It’s the first British Boxing Board of Control title that I’ve gone for and if I win, I’m in line to start challenging for the English title or maybe even the British.”

Hughes, whose only professional defeat came at the hands of Joe Elfidh back in 2012, was due to take on John Wayne Hibbert for the Southern Area title in July.

Following July’s cancellation, the Essex fighter was pencilled in to take on Bowes this Saturday, before pulling out of the fight and being replaced by Hughes.

Ironically, Hibbert remains in action at the O2 this weekend, challenging for a WBC international belt.