Boxing

Maxi Hughes vs. Archie Sharp: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

DAZN

23, May 25

Watch Harper vs Zimmermann live Friday on DAZN

Maxi Hughes turned heads with a dominant unanimous decision win over Gary Cully in December.

Now, Hughes (28-7-2, 6 KOs) will look to continue his late career surge and make it a third straight victory when he clashes with Archie Sharp (25-1, 9 KOs) at Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster, United Kingdom, and live on DAZN, on Friday night.

Sharp suffered his first pro loss in July in a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Ryan Garner and will be aiming to jump back into the win column.

With the urgency high for both fighters, DAZN News analyzes who has the edge across three major categories heading into their lightweight bout.

Boxing styles

Something will have to give when Maxi Hughes clashes with Archie Sharp.

Hughes is more than comfortable fighting in the pocket or better yet locking himself in the phonebooth and throwing away the key, loading up and detonating everything from uppercuts to overhand shots to their maximum leverage as a southpaw.

He will be up against another British fighter in Sharp who prefers to sit on the outside, pinpoint and potshot with clean punches that hit their marks.

Will Hughes’ aggression make Sharp wilt? Or will Sharp’s sweet science bank enough rounds to have his hand held high?

These questions will be answered in this exciting co-feature to Terri Harper vs. Natalie Zimmermann.

Edge: Hughes

Power

Neither Hughes nor Sharp possess alarming power, though the former more than the latter has the ability to overwhelm and drown out an opponent.

And that points back to their boxing styles where Hughes is more of the aggressor on the front foot and forward fighting.

That said, Sharp can make Hughes’ style backfire if he is able to time and catch him with counterpunches.

This category is close, with Hughes getting the slight nod.

Edge: Hughes

Mental Warfare

Hughes’ unanimous decision over Ireland’s Gary Cully was eye-opening for a few reasons. For starters, it was an upset — and a lopsided one — as Hughes shut Cully out on the judges’ scorecards.

Also, Hughes is six years Cully’s senior but that did not stop him from taking the fight to the Irish boxer and thoroughly dominating.

That kind of victory should give a 35-year-old like Hughes a renewed sense of confidence — the kind that Sharp is going to have to deal with.

Edge: Hughes

Who has the edge in Hughes vs Sharp?

Given their styles, Hughes will likely force the issue and make Sharp react.

That pressure could gradually wear on Sharp or the “Sharpshooter” will devise the remedy to that stalking aggression with the right dosage of sweet science counterpunching.

DAZN News has the edge going to Hughes, 3-0, with Sharp on the hook to destroy that outlook.