The Curious Case of Nina Hughes

The Curious Case of Nina Hughes

Winning a world title should be the beginning of a new exciting chapter in the life of a prizefighter. Boxing history will tell you that many times, the reality is very different.

In the latter period of 2022, Hughes upset the American Jamie Mitchell to win the WBA bantamweight title. A shiny new Matchroom contract soon followed. She was ringside a few weeks later in Leeds when Ebanie Bridges retained her IBF bauble against her fellow Australian Shannon O’Connell. A big unification fight was surely hers at some point in 2023. A matter of when and not if it would happen. Everything seemed in place that the following twelve months would be a golden year for her.

When Hughes signed with Matchroom, Eddie Hearn said of his latest signing:

“She has now put herself in the frame for huge domestic and unification fights and we look forward to delivering what she deserves in 2023.” But it just hasn’t happened for Hughes. Certainly not in the way she would once have envisaged.

Bridges was out injured for much of last year. The reigning WBA world champion was then a fighter who was then seemingly kept on ice until long-time prospective opponent Shannon Courtenay declared herself ready to return.

Hughes and Courtenay were scheduled to fight in June, but Courtenay withdrew from the fight a few weeks prior, and while a new opponent was quickly found in Katie Healy, it would be the start of a highly frustrating period for the former Team GB standout. The harsh words that followed the late Courtenay injury-related withdrawal highlighted perfectly the frustration of Hughes. Time hasn’t eased that sense of frustration.

Healy was widely outpointed in London, but we haven’t seen Nina Hughes inside a boxing ring since. And there are no immediate plans for her return anytime soon.

The chase for a unification fight with Bridges came to nothing. With the Australian now an ex-champion after Miyo Yoshida relieved her of her IBF title in a massive upset in December, Hughes saw that potential fight go up in smoke as a result of the Japanese fighter upsetting the odds in San Francisco.

But there seems little interest in getting Hughes a fight outside of one with Shannon Courtenay. The former WBA champion has reportedly turned down a fight with Hughes on several occasions. They could have fought with a reported ten weeks notice on the Chantelle Cameron Katie Taylor undercard in November. Even more recently, the fight was again apparently offered to Courtenay on the upcoming Belfast show at the end of this month. But again, the former champion needed more time. Incidentally, Hughes was given the same five weeks’ notice. And accepted the fight.

If Courtenay needs additional time before returning to the ring, she should be given it. But Hughes shouldn’t be kept on the shelf while Courtenay finds what she needs. But why is it seemingly Courtenay or nothing for Nina Hughes?

There are other fights for Hughes either in the form of her mandatory challenger Jamie Mitchell, plus a possible unification fight with Dina Thorslund, or multiple stay-busy fights until Courtenay is ready, if for some reason that is deemed as THE fight for Hughes. All Hughes wants to do is fight. As I have previously written, why is that so difficult.

Plenty of fighters are willing to fight Hughes, and she isn’t a fighter pricing herself out of fights. Money isn’t the reason why Hughes isn’t fighting. At least not on her side. But why are there still no signs of a Nina Hughes fight coming anytime soon? You have a title that is being held up through no fault of the current champion. And a champion who just wants to defend her title. Is it just one fight or nothing? If so, Hughes deserves better.

Hughes turns 42 in August. A fighter with no time to waste. She shouldn’t have to wait for anyone. Why is she not more of a priority? The clock is ticking in many ways. Hughes will fight anyone. But at the moment, she is just waiting for the call that never seems to come. That call needs to come. And quickly.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing