The IBO world lightweight champion returns to action on Saturday night when he makes the first defence of his title against Ryan Walsh in Leeds, and it will be the first time Hughes boxes since going full-time with the sport he loves.

When he came up against Jovanni Straffon at Headingley Rugby League Stadium last September, Hughes was having to find a balance between training and also working a full-time job.

What followed was a career-defining performance.

Hughes wasn’t afraid to go to war with the hard-hitting Straffon who was rocked by numerous shots throughout the 12 rounds and quite rightly was crowned the winner and new IBO lightweight champion.

As a result, Hughes went full-time when it came to his boxing, but insists nothing has changed when it comes to his mindset going into his upcoming fight with Walsh.

“My mentality and my mindset is still the same,” Hughes told DAZN in an exclusive interview.

“I’ve just been able to rest a bit better, I’ve just been more prepared.

“Do things more properly, be a bit more professional, I’ve got more time. I don’t have to try and cram things in around work so it’s just been a total blessing.”

While the praise was never-ending for Hughes’ achievement which included a nomination for British Boxer of the Year at the British Boxing Board of Control Awards, Hughes hasn’t let it distract him from the task at hand and has since comedown from the high of the Straffon victory.

“That’s been in the past, learn from it and look forward to this fight, continue that momentum, keep improving and we’ll be putting on a similar display.”

But Hughes’ memorable night at Headingley six months may not have happened if it wasn’t for a desire to win a domestic title.

Hughes almost called time on his career following a loss to Sam Bowen in 2018, but a desire to conquer Britain kept the 32-year-old motivated to continue his career inside the ring.

“I always felt I was good enough; I didn’t want to go out on a loss like that,” Hughes said.

“All I wanted was a domestic title which I achieved just over a year ago.

“Just that picture and visualisation of being British champion kept me going.”

Attention now turns towards Saturday night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds live on DAZN (except Australia and New Zealand) where Hughes makes the first defence of IBO belt against Ryan Walsh.

This will not be the first time however Hughes has had to face a member of the Walsh family. He faced Ryan’s brother Liam three years ago and lost on the judges’ scorecards, but now Hughes is looking to redeem himself against the less talented brother in his words.

“There’ll be slightly different problems,” Hughes responded when asked by DAZN whether he was expecting similar style from Ryan Walsh.

“I’m prepared, I think Liam is the better brother.

“I am not underestimating Ryan, he’s had plenty of notice, he’s had time to prepare for this so I’m expecting the best version of him.

“Whatever he comes with, I’ll have an answer for.”

Throughout Thursday’s press conference Walsh was calling Hughes to come out for a fight, but Hughes remained clam throughout. Whatever comes his way in front of his home city fans, he is ready to adapt in similar way he did for the Straffon fight and believes his experience will be

“Whatever I need to do, I’ll adjust and adapt, I said that before the Straffon fight,” Hughes said.

“If I needed to just jab him all night, I was prepared to do that, I think I did a bit of everything in there and I’ll just work my way through it.

“Whatever comes, I’m an experienced campaigner so we’ll see. I’ll do what I need to do to win.”