BOXING: Back with a bang (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

BOXING: Back with a bang

6:30pm Friday 8th June 2012 in Wiltshire Sport By Dan Barnes

JOE Hughes wants to step up and begin challenging for titles after getting back to winning ways in dominant fashion last weekend.

The 21-year-old Malmesbury fighter took just two rounds to stop Tamworth veteran Matt Seawright, despite giving away seven pounds to his Midlands opponent in a welterweight contest at the GL1 Centre in Gloucester at the weekend.

Frank Maloney-backed Hughes saw off Seawright, who had drawn with Westbury’s Aaron Fox in Trowbridge eight days previous, with a devastating left hook towards the end of the second round.

The broke the nose of his opponent and forced him to retire before the start of the third.

Former senior ABA champion Hughes was pleased to bounce back from his loss to Sheffield’s Joe Elfidh in March and said: “I was hoping for a little bit more from him to be honest, but you can’t complain about the win.

“I gave away seven pounds but I felt stronger than him so it wasn’t a disadvantage at all.

“I’m feeling really good at the moment and it is a bit of a shame that I only got two rounds in the ring.

“But this fight was all about getting back from that loss.

“I’d fight again this weekend if I could but boxing always quietens down over the summer and another fight probably won’t happen until September or October.

“I’d still love to get a re-match (with Elfidh) but I’d also love to try and fight for a light-welterweight title, like the Southern Area or the English.

“I’ve obviously got to talk to my manager about it but I think I’m at that level and I’m sure he thinks I am too.

“I know he wants to bring me through quickly.”