Big Fight Preview & Prediction: Nina Hughes vs Katie Healy

Big Fight Preview & Prediction: Nina Hughes vs Katie Healy

By Matt Elliott

Nina Hughes makes the first defence of her WBA bantamweight strap as she faces fellow Brit Katie Healy on Saturday night at the Wembley Arena. Hughes was originally scheduled to face Shannon Courtenay, but injury forced her out, and as a result, Healy gets her opportunity.

Both women have similar records, with Healy winning all of her six professional fights to date, and Hughes undefeated in her five outings so far, the last of which saw her take the belt from Jamie Mitchell.

In terms of experience, though, Hughes has the advantage. A longstanding member of the Great Britain squad and a four-time ABA national champion, Hughes knew she needed to move quickly when she turned pro, and she has done just that. Victory over Mitchell at the age of forty saw Hughes sign with Eddie Hearn, and this will be her debut performance under the Matchroom banner.

Healy is fifteen years Hughes’ junior, and her route to this position could not have been more different. Healy competed as a kickboxer through her teenage years, becoming a world champion before switching her trade. She has already enjoyed success and captured the WBF super-bantamweight title in July 2022, travelling to South Africa to defeat Matshidiso Mokebisi. The opportunity to face Hughes may have come earlier than envisaged, but she will be looking to grasp it with both hands.

Ultimately, I feel this one will come down to experience and back Hughes to successfully defend her title. Her front-foot aggressive style will be too much for Healy, and I back her to get a late stoppage or take a wide points decision.

FightPost Views: Nina Hughes is the sensible pick in this fight and it might have come a little too soon for Katie Healy. But if you are looking for a value-for-money bet, the 8-1 odds on offer for a Healy win on points are incredibly tempting. Her style just might be all wrong for the champion. A much closer fight than it looks on paper.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing