Maxi Hughes set for break after British title defeat

Manager Stefy Bull believes the Rossington fighter needs to rest up after a busy period in his career, which culminated with defeat to Sam Bowen in Leicester on Saturday night.

And he says the future is very much an open book for the 28-year-old.

“My advice for Maxi would be to have a rest and think about where he wants to go with his career,” Bull told the Free Press.

“Myself and his trainer Jimmy Harrington will support what he decides to do.

“If he wants to carry on, I will bring him back. It’s what I’m good at.

“He deserves to rest with his wife and a baby on the way.

“He’s got plenty of options.

“He’s a big, strong so there are definitely options at lightweight for him.

“One or two fights back, and he could be straight back for big title opportunities.

“If you want something bad enough, you keep trying for it until the opportunities come.”

The ringside doctor stopped last weekend’s fight due to damage suffered to Hughes’ eye during the intense, high paced contest.

Bull was full of praise for Hughes’ efforts against the hard-hitting Bowen.

“There’s no excuses from Maxi’s camp. Him and his trainer Jimmy Harrington had a fantastic camp. Everything they needed to do was done.

“It was just the fact on the night he got beat by the better man.

“Sam Bowen has emerged onto the super featherweight scene and I think domestically he will be hard to beat.

“Maxi didn’t get stopped. It was a close, competitive fight until the damage to his eye came.

“The doctor made the right decision and he saved Maxi for another day.”