Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

Maxi Hughes gave his career a second wind with a dominant unanimous decision upset win over Ireland’s Gary Cully in December.

The gritty 35-year-old Hughes (28-7-2, 6 KOs) will look for his third straight win when he throws hands with Archie Sharp (25-1, 9 KOs) at Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster, United Kingdom, and live on DAZN, on Friday night. The fight will serve as the co-feature to Terri Harper putting her WBO lightweight world title on the line against Germany’s Natalie Zimmermann.

Will Hughes overwhelm Sharp with an uptick of activity? Or will Sharp’s sweet science skills be enough to resolve Hughes’ brutal output?

DAZN News analyzes both fighters’ keys to victory, breaking down their boxing tactics.

Maxi Hughes’ keys to victory

Rip the body to close space

Maxi Hughes’ upset victory over Gary Cully in December showed just how effective the British veteran fighter is with his body attack.

This versatile body of work — pun intended — can be delivered in the form of a stab jab to the body, driving his opponents back.

Or it could be generated with clubbing right and left hooks to the midsection in shots that wear on opponents, getting them to lower their guards.

Against Archie Sharp, who prefers to pluck away from the outside, this pointed body attack will be key toward closing space and immediately making this Hughes’ kind of fight.

Show unrelenting pressure

Once Hughes establishes some kind of body attack early, it will be up to the southpaw to maximize his pressure.

This means continuing to fight forward and getting into the phonebooth with Sharp.

The more Hughes is able to walk him down, the duller of blades Sharp is likely to have.

Overwhelm with activity

With the body attack and the pressure that is likely to be derived from it, Hughes must drive his punch count up to overwhelm Sharp.

That means continuing to deposit shots to the midsection but also firing upstairs with left and right hooks, while also launching uppercuts.

This nonstop buzzsaw-like activity could very well drown Sharp out in this fight.

Archie Sharp’s keys to victory

Sit on the outside, potshot

Archie Sharp is called the “Sharpshooter” for a reason.

His ability to sit on the outside and pick away at opponents with precise, clean punches is noted and likely something that Hughes will have to deal with.

If Sharp can assert his jab early, it will give him his best chance of also establishing the ring real estate needed to continue to potshot and bank rounds.

Counterpunch in traffic

One way to handle Hughes’ nonstop pressure and activity is to time and counterpunch in traffic.

Doing this effectively could frustrate Hughes, forcing him to constantly reset his offense.

And Sharp has the tools necessary to achieve it.

Push off, reestablish room

When Hughes attempts to force the action in the phonebooth, locking Sharp in there with him and throwing away the key, Sharp should resort to pushing off.

Each time Sharp is successful at clinching and pushing off, he will reestablish his room and make Hughes reset.

Doing that will allow him to continue working from the outside where Sharp is most comfortable.

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