Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp Predictions: ‘Maximus’ meets ‘The Sharpshooter’ in Doncaster

Globe-trotting Yorkshireman Maxi Hughes returns this Friday, May 23 as he takes on ‘Sharpshooter’ Archie Sharp. ‘Maximus’ will serve as the chief support as Terri Harper defends her WBO lightweight title against Natalie Zimmerman. The card takes place at the Eco-power Stadium in Doncaster with DAZN screening live.

Here are my Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp predictions ahead of an exciting Donny night.

Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp Odds

Hughes is 1/4 to get this job in front of a local crowd. Sharp is your 11/4 underdog while a draw is priced at 14/1.

Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp Fight Preview

Leeds and Sheffield usually play host to Yorkshire’s big boxing nights. Callum Simpson has done a phenomenal job of making Barnsley a going concern, too. But Rossington’s Hughes fights in Doncaster for the first time in five years, something that will mean a lot to the 35-year-old.

Not that the world-ranked lightweight minds a bit of travel. Hughes has taken his gloves to Dubai, Oklahoma, Las Vegas and Monte Carlo since his last outing in Doncaster. A lot has happened in those intervening years.

Written off after losses to the likes of Scott Cardle, Martin J Ward, Sam Bowen and Liam Walsh; Hughes found himself fighting for his boxing life. But they say an animal is at their most dangerous when cornered. Hughes came out swinging.

Paul Hyland Jr. was knocked out in a British title challenge. Jovanni Straffon, heavily-fancied in the build-up, lost his IBO title to the Yorkshire southpaw. That title is considered a step below world level, but it was a mile above where critics had previously thought Hughes belonged.

The belt opened doors, too. Decision victories over Ryan Walsh and former world champion Kid Galahad opened the floodgates. Maxi Hughes was now big business. America beckoned, bringing with it fights against some of the world’s best.

Hughes lost his IBO strap to former unified lightweight king George Kambosos Jr. on a hotly-contested majority decision. Many felt the Australian was lucky to dethrone the Brit, with plenty of unofficial scorecards having Hughes leading.

The performance was good enough to earn Hughes another big fight. The kicker, it was against unbeaten knockout monster William Zepeda. The Mexican stopped Hughes in four rounds, putting a pin in his world title ambitions. 

While Zepeda has moved on to an upcoming WBC title shot against Shakur Stevenson, Hughes has embarked on a rebuild. A confidence-boosting win over six against Efstathios Antonas set the 35-year-old up for a big domestic dust-up.

Gary Cully was expected to give Hughes problems. I backed ‘Maximus’ at 10/11 in my preview but predicted a nip-and-tuck affair that could shape the further careers of both. However, while my pick of Hughes on points at 5/4 landed, what I did not expect was the veteran to win every single round. The ex-IBO titlist swept the board for every job, pitching a rare true shut-out at this level.

It is with this momentum behind him that Hughes meets Sharp. The ‘Sharpshooter’ from Sidcup has shown a lot of mettle in taking this fight. Archie is coming off a first career loss, on points to Ryan Garner last time out. Sharp’s conqueror won the European title in his next fight and is now set for a three-belt unification with British and Commonwealth king Reece Bellotti. 

Sharp was previously ranked as the world number one by the WBO, with a title shot looking like his for the taking. But too long waiting around or fighting inferior names to protect his ranking cost him. Sharp went into the Garner fight on the back of just two eight-rounders over the previous year. Being the apparent next-in-line burned Sharp. Now he fights to get back what he lost, moving up from super featherweight to lightweight to do so.

Hughes is a perfect foil for that mission. He is rated by the WBC, IBF and WBA, including a fourth-placed ranking with the latter. ‘Maximus’ is a big-game hunt for anyone looking to make waves. But he will not go easily. Hughes might have lost two of his last four bouts, but in a fairer world he might be sat here having propelled himself to a title shot off the back of being awarded the Kambosos decision.

These kinds of fight are always a treat. Bouts with a real sense the winner can kick on and secure huge opportunities. Hughes could need his passport again if he beats Sharp convincingly. For Sharp, a chance to get back to his previous lofty position beckons. First Doncaster, then the world for one of these men.

Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp Full Card

Terri Harper vs Natalie Zimmerman

Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp

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Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp Predictions

Hughes is the favourite here and with good reason. But Sharp is a serious talent and the odds here would have been tighter had he beaten Garner. ‘Maximus’ is a step-up in class and arguably the sort of challenge Sharp would have taken even in victory.

Hughes is not here by accident. His ring-savvy and tenacity have brought him through many situations in which he was expected to fail. This time he is the favourite, but I still think the 35-year-old has enough in the tank to get this done. I like Hughes at 1/4.

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