Gary Cully vs Maxi Hughes Predictions: Gut check time for ‘Maximus’

Gary Cully takes on Maxi Hughes this Saturday, December 14 at Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo. The lightweight battle takes place on the undercard of Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs Ricardo Espinoza for the WBA interim super bantamweight belt. DAZN will screen the card on both sides of the Atlantic.

Here are my Cully vs Hughes predictions ahead of this battle in Monaco.

Cully is going into his first bout outside the UK and Ireland while the well-travelled Hughes is back on the road after a rare domestic outing last time out. Their differing passports reflect their experience coming into this fascinating crossroads clash.

Cully is 28 years old and views the world’s best fighters with ambition and a yearning to face them. Hughes has mixed with boxing’s top lightweight stars, done the big nights in Vegas and risen up the world rankings.

Hughes’ story may prove a cautionary tale for Cully. The 34-year-old ‘Maximus’ found his level Stateside, suffering back-to-back losses to former lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr and current WBC interim king William Zepeda. Hughes is a brilliant pro, but the very best in the world had too much for him.

Cully knows Hughes is a potential launching pad to facing those sort of names. ‘The Diva’ had a bad setback when gatekeeper Jose Felix knocked him out in May 2023. But Cully has parked that first professional defeat, beating top Brit Reece Mould and fringe contender Francesco Patera since. Now he faces the biggest-name opponent of his career.

Hughes knows all about coming back from adversity. ‘Maximus’ went from domestic prospect to written-off yesterday’s man to world contender over the space of a few years. Starting with his shock IBO title win over Jovanni Straffon, the likable Yorkshireman kickstarted a career renaissance that took in wins over ex-world champ Kid Galahad and teak-tough contender Ryan Walsh.

The Kambosos and Zepeda defeats established his place in the world hierarchy, but the experience will have been vital. Against Kambosos in particular, there were those who felt Hughes warranted being on the right end of the eventual split decision. Hanging with a man who once beat Teofimo Lopez is no mean feat.

Cully has no such experience to draw on. But he does have youth and freshness. At 6’2 to Hughes’ 5’7, he has the physical dimensions to dictate this contest too. Felix showed Cully the importance of a tight defence and not getting drawn into a scrap. One thinks that the best course of action for ‘The Diva’ is discretion rather than all-out valour. 

Not easily maintained against Hughes though. His energy and volume-punching has swarmed many a foe. If the 34-year-old can navigate the Irishman’s range, he could make this a real contest. There is a reason Hughes is the slight favourite. The implication is that he knows too much and that Cully’s love of a tear-up could play right into the veteran’s hands.

Cully vs Hughes Fight Odds

This is a close one. Cully was initially the underdog but now sits at 10/11 while Hughes matches him at 10/11. A draw is priced at 14/1, a result that has occurred twice in the career of Hughes. 

Cully vs Hughes Full Card

Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Ricardo Espinoza Franco

Cheavon Clarke vs. Leonardo Mosquea

Beatriz Ferreira vs. Licia Boudersa

Gary Cully vs. Maxi Hughes

Teremoana Jr vs. Volodymyr Katsuk

Cully vs Hughes Prediction

The old stager putting on one last hurrah? The young lion making his bones? Boxing throws up this match-up every so often and I always find it an intoxicating mix.

This one boils down to what Hughes has left for me. He knows more, has experienced more and has achieved more. ‘Maximus’ is a fighter who has been written off more times than a Top Gear track car. But if he has anything left, I think he finds a way here.

I’m picking Hughes to secure victory on the scorecards at 5/4.

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