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00:00Ladies and gentlemen from Sheffield, England, live on DAZN, it's now time for the chief support of the evening.
00:09Set to make his ring walk, please welcome the tough, rugged, and experienced fighter from Yorkshire, Maxi Maximus Hughes.
00:30So the journey continues, the 41st ring walk in the entertaining, extraordinary career of Yorkshire Star Wars, the ever-ready
00:43and ever-popular Maxi Hughes.
00:46He's given us many fabulous domestic nights, former British champion, world-class lightweight at times, and now in full belief
00:56he's going to dispatch another Max Rupert prospect.
01:01He is the underdog going in, but you've got to love Maxi and his ass.
01:06Now, I'll tell you now, the one Cinderella man, can he be that again?
01:10I'm telling you, I've got tons of experience, this man knows how to fight.
01:14A proper, honest, professional who gives his all.
01:21And now entering the arena, please welcome the young, explosive, hard-hitting Italian job, Giorgio Vizioli.
01:49Some believe this silky southpaw, smooth talker, and all-round attractive protégé, Giorgio Vizioli.
02:00Giorgio Vizioli is one of the best youngsters, not just in the UK, but globally.
02:06Time will tell, he's sparkled in 11 straight wins, but tonight is the first real step up in major class.
02:15It is indeed, it really is, but the man, as you say, has got bundles of talent.
02:20Absolute razor-sharp hands, feet of reactions.
02:23Just experience needed, but this, as you say, a real test.
02:27Jimmy Tibbs just behind him, with some mark heading the corner.
02:32What experience there.
02:34And on the other side, it's Josh Warrington's team.
02:37Maxie Hughes, one of the three musketeers, with Reece Smolde and Josh.
02:43Great corners, great fighters.
02:51Ladies and gentlemen, from Sheffield, England, live on DAZN, we are set to go with the chief support of the
02:58evening, and it's all being brought to you courtesy of Mr. Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing.
03:03This belt is sanctioned under the auspices of the British Boxing Board of Control.
03:08The steward in charge is Suzanne Potts and the World Boxing Council.
03:13The president, Mauricio Suleiman.
03:16The supervisor is Mr. Peter Stuckey.
03:21Introducing your three judges, scoring this title contest from ringside.
03:26Ray Donesco, Lee Every, and John Iona.
03:31And at the sound of the bell, your third man in the ring, A-star referee, Mr. Kieran McCann.
03:38And now, ladies and gentlemen, ten rounds of boxing scheduled for the WBC International Silver Lightweight Championship.
03:48Introducing first, fighting out of the red corner.
03:51He wears white with black trim.
03:53This southpaw scale, nine stone, eight pounds, nine ounces.
03:57Professional record, 29 victories.
04:00Nine defeats, two draws, with six wins coming by way of knockout.
04:05He fights out of Rossington, Doncaster.
04:10Here is the former British lightweight champion and the former IBO lightweight champion of the world, Maxi, Maximus Hughes.
04:28Hughes.
04:32And his opponent, across the ring, fighting out of the blue corner.
04:36He wears blue with silver trim.
04:39This southpaw scale, nine stone, eight pounds, nine ounces.
04:43His professional record, perfect.
04:46Eleven fights, eleven victories, with six of his wins coming by way of knockout.
04:52He fights out of Aldershot, Hampshire.
04:55Please welcome the reigning English lightweight champion.
05:00Here is the young, undefeated prospect, the Italian job, Giorgio Vizioli.
05:12Vizioli.
05:22Right, lads, listen up.
05:24You both had your instructions in the dressing room, and you know what I expect of you, OK?
05:27Keep the fight clean, obey my commands, and most importantly, gentlemen, protect yourself at all times.
05:31Shake hands, lads.
05:32Could be an enthralling, lightweight matchup for the WBC international silver belt chief support here in Sheffield.
05:42It's a crossroads clash.
05:44Youth against experience.
05:47The proven man in Maxi Hughes against the promise of Giorgio Vizioli.
05:53Over ten, an all-southpaw affair.
05:58Let's see who has more at this stage of their career.
06:03The campaigner on his way up, or the man that's been there, had his ups and downs, but is still
06:11training hard.
06:13And at the age of 36, performing.
06:18Yeah, Maxi's had a great career, obviously.
06:20He's had some setbacks, but I think it's really down to, he's always been willing to take the fights.
06:25He's never shied away from a challenge, even at this stage.
06:28He didn't need to fight Giorgio Vizioli on his ascendancy.
06:31He didn't need to.
06:32He could probably be looking at maybe more established names in the weight division, but he didn't.
06:37He's taken the challenge, and look, Giorgio, for me, is one of the technically best fighters that I've ever seen.
06:44I know there's a long way to go, but he does so much right, and he's so sharp and in
06:49control of his body,
06:50that when he does find his range and he finds his rhythm, he's a very, very, very hard night's work
06:55for anyone.
06:57And an aging fighter, and I don't think it's unfair for me to say that with regards to Maxi Hughes.
07:05Their kryptonite is speed, and Giorgio Vizioli has that in abundance.
07:09He really does.
07:10Speed of hand, foot, reactions.
07:11He's just so sharp, and the only is, it's the control that he has, a maturity for someone only in
07:17their 12th fight.
07:18It's so impressive.
07:19It really is.
07:20And the judgment of distance as well from Vizioli.
07:24I've been very impressed, and he's got a confidence, not an arrogance, in his ability.
07:30Maxi Hughes, which one turns up, said trainer Sean O'Hagan to me earlier tonight.
07:36If we get a great Maxi Hughes, we get a great fight here.
07:39Battle of the jabs early on.
07:41Yeah, it is indeed, and I like the variation of the jab of Maxi Hughes.
07:44Head and body, really fires it up from the hip as well.
07:49Maxi, one of those fighters that really try and feed off your mistakes.
07:52Obviously, I'm a part of Giorgio's team, and that's one thing I've definitely been in looking at.
07:56But you can't make too many mistakes of a fighter of the caliber of Maxi, because he's always got his
08:01feet under him.
08:02He's going to try and make you reach, and then he's going to try and land a clean shot, and
08:05then close the space for you to get one back.
08:07Right now, a very cagey beginning.
08:09Some nice lead handwork from both fighters.
08:16They're both active.
08:18Maxi Hughes, who had such an Indian summer to his career, didn't he?
08:23Phenomenal story.
08:26Former IBO champion.
08:29I remember him having a trilogy with Martin J. Ward years ago.
08:34Really, really good fights.
08:36And you wonder whether he'd ever come on after that, and how he did.
08:39Incredible, really, really, as I say, good, honest pro with bundles of ability.
08:44Oh, nice left hand from Maxi Hughes.
08:47Good countering shot, end of the first round, and Vizioli takes it.
08:51And maybe he knows now that he's in with a very good campaigner.
08:57Hey!
09:00Come on, what's the fucking mouth?
09:04Yeah, don't let him match with any jabs.
09:07Yeah, he's not fast enough, all right?
09:08Yeah, well done, lovely back hand.
09:10Yeah, lovely back hand.
09:11That's all we've got to do.
09:12Don't find it again, yeah?
09:14Find that again.
09:15You'll find it using the front hand like you're doing.
09:18You'll have a lovely little face with your hands and feet.
09:21You know what I mean?
09:22Very nice.
09:22Do that again, son.
09:23No, it's not.
09:24No, it's not.
09:25It's not.
09:26It's not.
09:27Close those.
09:30Yeah.
09:31One of the most famous father and son teams in British boxing, Jimmy Tibbs.
09:36Oh, thanks, you're in it, man.
09:37Yeah.
09:38And that's Mark.
09:39Yeah, yeah.
09:40Yeah, yeah.
09:42After that first round, which was a battle of the jabs, trying to get the first breakthrough,
09:48but the best shot of the round had landed with Maxi Hughes, didn't it?
09:52Yeah, and I think he may have just nicked the round because of that.
09:54I mean, as you say, it was a real chess match early on with the jab, but it was a
09:59lovely
09:59left hand, wasn't it?
10:00The blue and white of the 23-year-old from Aldershot in Hampshire, Giorgio Vizioli, calls
10:07himself the Italian job.
10:1012th professional outing.
10:11He's undefeated.
10:12And in with Maxi Hughes, who's won 29 through the years.
10:16He's lost nine, but some of them very, very close fights, and he's had some really good
10:21upset wins in the course of his career, but he is 36 now, so 13 years the difference.
10:29Sonny, what about that start for your man, Giorgio Vizioli?
10:32Yeah, I thought for the most part it was a Vizioli round.
10:34I do agree that the best shot was landed by Maxi, but I do think a lot of the lead
10:38hand
10:38worked.
10:39There was a few hooks as well that landed, and just controlled a jab.
10:42I still scored that to Vizioli, but definitely a very close, cagey and competitive round
10:47with the best shot going against him, so yeah, probably a split rounder when you look at
10:52the scorecards of the judges around the ring, but yeah, I think a nice start.
10:56Very cagey, though.
10:58Yep, three judges for the WBC International.
11:02Silverveld is on the line.
11:04Ten rounds.
11:05Maxi Hughes has fought for so many different titles.
11:08Vizioli, the English champion, and the man that many top observers feel is going a long
11:16way in this sport.
11:17Just got to settle here, hasn't he, Darren?
11:20They, yeah, but I think for both, but the balance, I'm just looking at the feet of both
11:25fighters, very, very good.
11:27Always in the right position to either attack or defend themselves.
11:32Last time out, Maxi Hughes, I don't look into that a great deal.
11:35You know, short notice, stepping up weight, Pierce O'Leary, you know, shoulders, he's still
11:39got bundles of fight and heart left in him.
11:43Good jab from Vizioli, just short with the left hand, but that was better from the youngster.
11:48Maxi Hughes, yeah, going up in weight, short notice.
11:51Pierce O'Leary, just too much for him, but at his natural 9-9, Hughes is a real handful.
12:02He's crafty, isn't he?
12:03Shows that experience.
12:05Maxi Hughes, nice jab, moving.
12:07The variation of movement as well is back side to side, and all of a sudden you're launching.
12:13Now, keep Vizioli thinking it works.
12:15Also, kind of lovely jab.
12:18Now's that reach of Vizioli.
12:20You said hand speed.
12:21Hughes still looks like he's got a fair bit of that, too.
12:25But I don't know what I think he's really still got.
12:27He's got his timing and he's got his patience, and that's where Maxi, I think, succeeds a lot
12:31in the fights that he has won.
12:33He's let the opponent keep making mistakes until he's landing them clean.
12:38He did that with Archie Sharp, didn't he?
12:41That was at Doncaster, the Outdoors.
12:47You've never had him down for 36.
12:49No, he's an absolute consummate professional.
12:53Looks for the body, Vizioli.
12:54Another tight round.
13:03Well, for me, that's coming out, but listen, what are you doing?
13:09It's just basically what you're doing.
13:11Yeah.
13:12Some names in there.
13:13Jamie Sheldon, one.
13:16Josh Warrington, what a legend of the score.
13:18The Leeds Warrior, who looks in fantastic condition, gentlemen.
13:23What are you trying to say?
13:24He didn't whisper to me earlier on tonight, a few hours ago, one more.
13:31One more, there's always one more.
13:33Hold on.
13:36I'll tell you, I ain't got one more, and that's me.
13:38I know that.
13:44Maxi Hughes might have more than one more if he wins this.
13:47At 36, might not have done enough in the second round.
13:51Very, very close first six minutes.
13:52You thought that two southpaws often cancel themselves out.
13:57Reminds me of a British title in this division between Bobby Vanzi and Stephen Smith many years ago.
14:04Sometimes they don't catch fire, the two port siders, but there's a lot of intelligence in the ring.
14:10Good movement, skills, and it's definitely one for the purists.
14:14It is absolutely two very good operators.
14:18Such a good gauger, isn't it?
14:20See where Vizioli's at.
14:22Working the body nicely there with the straight shots.
14:24And I think even though not too much is getting landed either way, I think Giorgio definitely controlling the sort
14:30of bulk of the exchanges just from that long range.
14:34But neither of them can really afford against each other to make too low.
14:37Good shot from Giorgio.
14:38Stiffened up Maxi's legs a little bit there.
14:40But that's it.
14:41The first time Maxi really made a mistake, blinded himself, he got caught with a shot.
14:45Same way first time Giorgio switched off a little bit, he got caught.
14:48They're both at that level of fighters where whoever makes the most mistakes is going to lose this one.
14:52The hand speed was good there from Vizioli.
14:56Early on in the fight.
14:58Maybe that could be the difference.
15:01Lovely there again.
15:03Vizioli who looks so good against Levi Giles last time out, beginning to measure the ring here.
15:11He's just cranked it up ever so slightly, hasn't he, Vizioli?
15:15Landing that left hand was a beautiful shot.
15:17He took it well, Hughes.
15:19He really did.
15:20But he hasn't offered anything back since that one landed.
15:23Giorgio waiting for him to come back over his front foot.
15:25I'll tell you what, he's a real class act, Giorgio.
15:28When he puts his hands together, I mean, he is a joy to watch.
15:32And sometimes you're left just wanting to see a little bit more of that.
15:35But he's just, he's on point all the time, isn't he?
15:38Hughes has normally shown a pretty good chin and durability through his career.
15:44Yes, Pearce O'Leary forced a stoppage.
15:46Also, William Zabeda got to him.
15:48But that was...
15:49Oh, great shot from Giorgio.
15:50Yeah, he's beginning to really settle here.
15:54Getting some power and meat in.
15:56Planting his front foot, Vizioli.
15:58And you called it.
15:59Looking dominant.
16:00Yeah, he is.
16:01And you called it, Sonny.
16:02As I were walking in, he sort of whispered to me.
16:04He just beat, and he does, doesn't he, Giorgio?
16:06Yeah, he feels out...
16:07He feels out the weight very, very well, Giorgio.
16:10Because he's so dedicated, he eats right at the moment now.
16:14Got a shot from Hughes, though.
16:16He's got the tricks of the trade still.
16:18Well, you don't go 289 rounds into a career that started in 2010.
16:26If you don't know your way around the ring, like the back of your hand, and that's what Maxi Hughes
16:32does.
16:33Has he got the fleet of foot and the speed to be able to do the job tonight?
16:37We don't know.
16:37We've just seen a level above when it comes to speed in this round from Vizioli.
16:41And that's been the difference for me.
16:42Oh, lovely shot again.
16:43Yeah, that was a sickening right to the body.
16:45He took that well, Hughes.
16:46Beautifully placed by Vizioli.
16:49There's the class, and he's just got some swagger here now.
16:53The man from Aldershot.
16:55There's a smile through the gum shield.
16:57And this is the clearest round so far for Vizioli.
17:12That's what I've noticed a little through his early career, that he really has a look and warped into things,
17:20and then sort of puts the accelerator on.
17:22Yeah, and I think that's always sort of the message with Giorgio.
17:26It's about getting the control, finding your range, and then every mistake punish him.
17:30Look at that.
17:30Maxi, against most other fighters in his career, would have sneaked away from that.
17:34He would have just found his way out of range.
17:36But because Giorgio's rhythm, because he's range-finding, it's so expert,
17:40he can find you when you're blinding yourself every time you make the mistake.
17:43And we're just seeing that was a lovely backhand as well there.
17:46And also a cover-up from Giorgio.
17:48I think that was his best round so far.
17:50I think he's won all three rounds.
17:51Apart from that one shot, I don't think he's put a single foot wrong so far in this.
17:56Very good performance so far, Giorgio Vizioli.
17:58And very quick, up off his stool in that blue corner, Giorgio Vizioli, 11-0.
18:05Maxi Hughes, 29 victories.
18:08Nine losses and two defeats.
18:11Fascinating career.
18:11I mean, when he lost to Liam Walsh all those years ago, you wondered what he had.
18:17But he beat his brother Ryan, didn't he?
18:19And Kidd Galahad and some great performances.
18:23Like that one against George Cambosis as well overseas.
18:26Yeah.
18:27He needs a round back here, Maxi Hughes, because that was a very, very good round.
18:33That for Giorgio Vizioli.
18:35I think Maxi just struggling with the sort of rhythm that Giorgio is putting on him.
18:40He's constantly getting to the edge of range and he's making Maxi do something.
18:43He's making him react or think.
18:45And a lot of the time, I think Maxi's being patient and edging away.
18:48He needs to start working some more like he did just there.
18:51It's just the pressure and it's Maxi knows if he makes a mistake, he's going to be punished
18:56with this blister and hand speed.
18:58I want to see him just faint a little bit more, try and draw the lead out of Vizioli
19:02and target the body with that jab.
19:04Just regroup.
19:07They've both got six knockouts on the record.
19:10So the feeling was this would go rounds.
19:14I think he does hit quite hard though, Vizioli, doesn't he, Sonny?
19:17Very sharp.
19:18Very, very, very sharp.
19:19And a lot of the time, it's more the opponent's really reluctant to give him the opportunities.
19:24And because he's such a good boxer, taking away the action there again, look, twice.
19:29Maxi's swinging and absolutely missing.
19:31And he's a very accurate fighter, Maxi, typically.
19:34Yeah, just slightly out of his own river, Maxi Hughes.
19:39He's got a big support here coming from Rossington, just outside Doncaster.
19:45Always been incredibly popular on the circuit.
19:48But Vizioli, the man, as Sonny said, in the ascendancy, and just walks into a shot there from Hughes.
19:56It's a reminder every time, isn't it?
19:58Look, Maxi Hughes, at no point in this contest, will feel sorry for himself.
20:04He'll always believe he can find a way.
20:06He can only take a single shot like he landed a moment ago just to get you going again.
20:11But you'd think Maxi has to commit like he is doing more in this round.
20:15I think he's only landed one of all those shots he's thrown.
20:17But if he stands off, he's going to be just at the end of a boxing lesson, I think, for
20:21the most part.
20:22He's got the reach, the speed, hasn't he?
20:23And the speed to get out of range, Vizioli.
20:26So, yeah, I agree with you.
20:27He needs to be the boss, be the aggressor on the front foot.
20:30There's just so much danger there because that backhand, Giorgio, he doesn't often throw it.
20:35He doesn't overuse his backhand.
20:37But it's always ready.
20:38It's always cocked.
20:39He's controlling it with his lead hand.
20:41He's scoring with the lead hand.
20:42And then he comes around with it.
20:44Lovely body shot.
20:45He's thrown a couple of different ones.
20:47Vizioli finding gaps.
20:50And that's not easy against the fighter of Maxi Hughes.
20:53As Camilla comes back with his own work to the head.
20:56Good round, this.
20:57Enjoy that one.
21:00Both of them having some success inside the arena.
21:06Backstage.
21:07There he is.
21:09The former two-time champion, Alberto Pueyo with Ismail Salas.
21:14Salas, what experience there.
21:16What wisdom from the corner, too.
21:19And Pueyo is coming to become a three-time champion, Sonny.
21:24It is crazy sometimes, though, when a fighter's been a two-times world champion.
21:28He's not won no more and he's only lost one fight.
21:31And then everyone seems to ignore the reason why he lost his belt the first time.
21:35But it's the second fight that's done that same thing that Dalton's fighting in a row.
21:39And he's going to beat Pueyo as well, just the way he did it to it.
21:41I felt he won that fight as well, Pueyo.
21:44Against Matthias.
21:45Yes.
21:45Yeah, it was very, very close.
21:47We were there in New York.
21:49Dalton was there, too.
21:50I think he thought he was going to have a face-off with Pueyo.
21:54But it was with Matthias that he went in January.
21:58And now it's Pueyo.
21:59It doesn't get easy at the top of the 140-pound division.
22:03We're in the 135-pound, 9-stone-9 division.
22:08The right of your screens, the blue trunks of the fresh-faced Giorgio Vizioli.
22:14Trying to extend his undefeated record and get the biggest scalp on his slate so far in Maxi Hughes.
22:21But Hughes just occasionally, maybe not throughout this, but they're signs of the old magic.
22:31I mean, it's always there.
22:32He's a brilliant fighter, as we've pointed out.
22:34But I like the work that he does with the lead hand, Giorgio Vizioli.
22:37Even when he's not throwing it, every now and again he'll pour it out.
22:41He'll fire a jab to the body.
22:43Look at the total punch he's thrown.
22:46Vizioli, 173.
22:48Outworking.
22:48Good job.
22:49Maxi Hughes at the minute.
22:52I think Maxi just, he knows if he keeps throwing, he's going to get countered and it's going to be
22:56quite clean.
22:56I think he's, again, like I said at the beginning, like I've been saying to Giorgio in camp for this
23:00fight,
23:01Maxi feeds off fighters' mistakes.
23:03We saw Gary Cully chase him around the ring, not change anything for 10 rounds.
23:07And Maxi enjoyed that.
23:09He loved that.
23:09But Giorgio, he's got a lot more IQ at this stage of his career.
23:13And he's got a lot more, not just belief in his power, it's all about the control.
23:17It's about owning each round, getting in control and then taking away the fight from your opponent.
23:23That was a great win for Maxi Hughes.
23:27Vizioli beat Joe Howarth and, as we said, Levi Giles with a shutout.
23:32And this, the step up, the test, he'll be learning so much in there from being in with Maxi Hughes.
23:39But who gets the victory?
23:41Vizioli ahead for you, Darren.
23:42Yeah.
23:42Yeah.
23:44We obviously haven't seen it on fight night, but Sonny, have you ever seen Vizioli walk down and sparring?
23:50Anyone being able to push him back consistently?
23:54Not really, because his foot works so good.
23:57And Giorgio, he could float around the back end of the ring and make you not be able to hit
24:01him for 10 rounds.
24:02But he just doesn't want a box like that.
24:04He doesn't want his legacy to be that of a back foot boxer that's not an exciting fight.
24:09He's made that very clear.
24:11Look how he fights.
24:11Constantly in the front foot.
24:12Constantly adjusting.
24:14Constantly put the pressure on.
24:15Never wild, never disregarding his opponent's ability or their strength, but he's always enforcing the pace.
24:21And he's done that in every single one of his fights.
24:22You see the wide stance as well with Vizioli.
24:25He's always ready to dart in and out.
24:28Very hard to pin down.
24:30Just struggling now, isn't he, Maxi Hughes?
24:32Just to find his time and his distance, his range.
24:36Yep, there's not that much clear water in the rounds, but you just get the feeling that he's doing that
24:42bit more, Vizioli.
24:43That he's reading the fight slightly better, that he's got that hand speed.
24:48Hughes occasionally with a countering shot, but I don't think that's going to win him the rounds.
24:52I just don't think he's really scoring, Maxi.
24:54And even though Giorgio's not hitting him with bang crash, Wallet punches over and over again.
24:58That jab has been phenomenal every single round.
25:06Navaridi and Foster can't wait for that.
25:08Later tonight from the States.
25:12DAZN, another double header.
25:14Are you looking forward to that, Sonny?
25:16Yeah, I really like Foster, actually.
25:18He boxed on the same card over in Dubai.
25:20And he showed me when he fought on Uzbek just how good he was.
25:24He had a couple of losses.
25:25He weren't all the way up to the world level yet.
25:27But since then, he's gone from strength to strength to strength.
25:30And he's taken over.
25:32Obviously, Navaridi is a very good fighter.
25:34Do you think he beats him?
25:35By the way, I do.
25:36And I want him to as well.
25:40Sean O'Hagan with Maxi Hughes in that red corner.
25:44How are you feeling?
25:46Normal back, you know.
25:50Josh Warrington to his left side.
25:53Reece Mould will be somewhere around there.
25:55The three of them have been fantastic for Yorkshire boxing over the years.
25:59Reece Mould was in the corner of Ed Hardy earlier tonight.
26:03They've given so much value.
26:05Josh Warrington, of course, elite level.
26:08But Maxi Hughes has had a swashbuckling career and one we've really enjoyed.
26:13How much is left at this stage?
26:16Second half in the 9-stone-9 division.
26:20WBC international silver belt on the line.
26:23The English champion, Giorgio Vizioli.
26:26What sort of performance so far, do we think, Darren, from the youngster?
26:31He's a mature display.
26:33That's for sure.
26:34He's in there with someone who's experienced.
26:35So he's not taking any unnecessary risks.
26:40But I do feel plenty of time still for him to get through the gears.
26:46Oh, lovely shot.
26:47Yeah, lovely counter with that left hand there.
26:49And again, it's just the way he's able to take that half a step back
26:51and make Maxi Hughes fall onto the shots.
26:54He just can't get going, Kelly, Sonny.
26:56And it is what Giorgio has done to all of his opponents, really.
26:59He'll keep scoring.
27:00He'll keep scoring.
27:01But he makes them so reluctant to commit to coming over their front foot
27:04because if they do and don't do it perfectly,
27:07he's stinging them with a hurtful shot
27:09and he's using their momentum against him.
27:11And then what do you get?
27:12You get another 30 seconds where Maxi doesn't really want to throw.
27:16He's going to try and pick a moment to launch a quite bigger one
27:18to sort of take back that exchange.
27:20But he's just in control for me here, Giorgio.
27:22And good-looking body shots as well, that wand of a southpaw jab.
27:27And I think Sonny, after the first couple of rounds,
27:30he's looked really commanding the way he's taken the ring,
27:34being aggressive.
27:38Lovely body shot there with a left hand from Vizioli.
27:42Takes such a good shot, Maxi Hughes.
27:44He's just struggling here with the timing, the speed of Vizioli.
27:50Just can't get that lead hand on.
27:51I like to see him jab to the body,
27:52but as I say that, he has a knack of using that lead hand, Vizioli.
27:56There's a little uppercut or a little screw shot.
27:59Oh, lovely.
28:00Fell short a little bit there, but it's the intention.
28:04Step in behind the double jab, then throw that left hand, Vizioli.
28:07I think he can be a bit more forceful when he comes forward.
28:10He is happy to throw when Maxi's going over his front foot,
28:13but I think just very mindful of how good Maxi actually is,
28:16even though right now he's looking a bit old
28:18and looking a bit like he's struggling a bit.
28:20Maxi is still a very, very accomplished and good level fighter.
28:23Very good.
28:24You can't make mistakes or he will punish you.
28:25We saw it in a couple of the early rounds.
28:28Yeah, his legs are still very much there, Maxi Hughes,
28:31but I've noticed that he's falling short with some of the combinations.
28:35Can't quite get that judgment of distance,
28:38which at 36 may be that bit harder,
28:41but give Vizioli plenty of credit for his authority tonight.
28:46I mean, it's a very dangerous technique, or tactic rather,
28:51but Maxi Hughes' best chance to land in the shot
28:55is when Vizioli's letting his own shots go.
28:57I think when he leaves, he falls short.
29:03I love the dip and I love the hook.
29:05Make the hook tighter.
29:07Listen, the one-two's there.
29:09The one-two's there now.
29:12The one-two's there now.
29:14Lovely jump, lovely jump.
29:15But we've got to do something else now, all right?
29:18I love the dip and the hook.
29:19I love the dip and the hook.
29:21Just sort of off a little bit.
29:23Make it to our Malcolm Pats.
29:26Yeah, all right.
29:27Listen, the long stuff, the long stuff.
29:29Too quick for it, all right?
29:30You went jab, jab, crack.
29:32Yeah.
29:32You've got a bit more distance now.
29:34Yeah.
29:35Keep it up, maintain that.
29:36Yeah, Mark's right there.
29:37The long stuff is good.
29:39The jab's good.
29:39They just want a little bit more variety, I think, now.
29:42Can you show up?
29:43Yeah.
29:44Maybe.
29:45We could definitely be asking that.
29:46It's with Devil's Advocate.
29:47But you know what I want, Adam?
29:49I want a shout-out win.
29:50I want to give Maxi 0% chance because Giorgio's career is not going to be defined by this performance
29:54tonight.
29:55It's where he gets to.
29:56So don't give Maxi nothing.
29:57Right now, I think he's won every single round, clearly.
30:00He's been in control, and he's given very little opportunity for Maxi to even land back.
30:05So I always say that the victory means something, and it looks like something for different people.
30:11If you're Sonny and you're part of the team, the win is crucial.
30:14If you're Eddie, you want fireworks.
30:16Then if you're a crowd member who's bought a ticket, you want fireworks.
30:20What do you want?
30:21I like to see a fighter progress, win.
30:24And when they win, you know, you get to stay on.
30:27You get to go again.
30:28Come on, Darren.
30:29This is classic Repton style right now, isn't it?
30:31Don't give your opponent a chance.
30:33Keep popping the head off with a jab.
30:34And every time they come over that front foot, snap the head back.
30:37Giorgio's doing it by textbook definition right now.
30:40That same style that won me a new world title is down.
30:43You're not only a wonderful analyst, you're a great salesman, Sonny Edwards.
30:46And I'm really trying hard not to oversell or over big up Giorgio, but I genuinely believe he's that good.
30:53That there's not enough hyperboles to use him.
30:55Remember how young he is?
30:56Remember how old the infancy of his career he is right now?
30:59Good shot.
31:00A good bit of work for Maxi, but still, what does Giorgio do?
31:02He takes it away.
31:03He barely, the shot barely lands.
31:05He was an excellent amateur too, wasn't he?
31:07Yeah, and he only started boxing at 15.
31:08He was a world champion top level kickboxer.
31:11He decided to go boxing 15.
31:12Within 12 months, he was a junior ABA champion.
31:16And he was a senior ABA champion twice at two different weights.
31:19Two weight, yeah.
31:20At a weight heavier than he's ever boxed as a pro as well.
31:23He's a phenomenal fighter, Giorgio.
31:24Two weight ABA champion.
31:26Your mate Joe Calzaghi was three weight.
31:28I mean, that's big stuff.
31:30Stopped everyone, didn't he?
31:31As a light middleweight, I think.
31:33Oh, unbelievable.
31:34Amateur and pro, one of the best we've ever seen.
31:38Giorgio Vizioli has big dreams.
31:40First, he's got to deal with Maxi Hughes.
31:42It's not done yet.
31:44We'll still believe, as long as he's in there, he's had so much experience over the years.
31:50But how can he turn this around?
31:52Running out of rounds here.
31:57Yeah, the speed of hand and feet is the issue, the kryptonite, as I said earlier, for Maxi Hughes.
32:03He just can't get in any kind of rhythm, can't land anything, can't build an attack because he can't get
32:10close enough.
32:13But what do you do when someone's popping a jab like this through seven rounds?
32:16He's barely missed it, Giorgio.
32:19Why does he need, he doesn't need to throw the backhand when he's landing a jab this regular.
32:22It's impossible to outscore it.
32:26Good body shot, though, from Maxi Hughes.
32:29One of the first times I feel like he's gone downstairs there, Maxi.
32:31He's not really looked to throw too many downstairs.
32:35I guess one of the frustrations a little bit, if we're going to go there with Viziaro,
32:40because when he does go through the gears, whether he needs to or not, we know he can do it.
32:45And he looks such a joy when he does it.
32:48He's just sometimes want to see more of it.
32:52Because I think it's eye-catching, it's classy, and it's punishing.
32:57But this works, too.
32:59I would love to see him just jab the head of Maxi for the next three rounds, to be honest,
33:02like he has been doing.
33:03And that's what Sonny wants.
33:04Jamie, what's Tony's opinion on Giorgio's performance?
33:09Yeah, thanks, Adam.
33:10Tony, how are you seeing this through seven rounds?
33:12I think it's one-sided.
33:14I think Giorgio Vizioli's winning.
33:15Listen, Maxi's...
33:16I think Maxi's out of stage in security.
33:18He's no longer fighting three minutes of every round, and that's quite clear to see.
33:21Giorgio Vizioli's picking him off and sharp shooting him from the outside.
33:25I think he's maybe with two rounds at the most, but for me, Giorgio Vizioli's completely in control.
33:29This is the acid test for Giorgio Vizioli.
33:31What do you believe we've found out about him so far in this fight?
33:35I just think, you know, Maxi's trying to old man, Giorgio.
33:38And I don't think it's working, to be totally honest.
33:41There's not enough working.
33:43But for Maxi to defeat Giorgio Vizioli has to not work him.
33:46He's never going to outfox Giorgio Vizioli.
33:48He's just not sharp enough, and he's just not forceful enough.
33:52And at the minute, he's getting to old man.
33:54OK, on we go then. Seven down, three to go. Thanks, Tony.
33:58Thanks very much.
33:59Boys, Giorgio Vizioli, by a big stretch, believes Tony, believes Sonny, believes Darren.
34:06Nine minutes to go for Maxi Hughes to somehow turn this around.
34:10He's been around 16 years as a pro, so he's got all the seasoning.
34:17But does the body still react?
34:20There's a left hand.
34:21Is he going to go for it here, Maxi Hughes?
34:23With this crowd, why not?
34:25Yeah.
34:26That was better, though.
34:27He brought his feet in there, Maxi Hughes.
34:29And that enabled him to land that one-two.
34:32But I think because he's rarely committing, the odd time that he does, Maxi, he is having some success.
34:38But I think if he carries on committing, keeps committing, I think he's going to walk onto something heavy.
34:43Another body shot from Maxi Hughes.
34:45Thrown it again in the eighth round.
34:48There's still some spice there in the Hughes make-up.
34:53It's great that he's taken these young prospects for both of them and a left to the head.
34:57This is good from Hughes.
34:58And he's better, but look, because he's coming forward.
35:01He's trying to push Giorgio back.
35:02This is a lot better, him being thoughtful on that front foot.
35:05Giorgio can't.
35:06I would say this is the best patch of the fight for Hughes and a body shot as well.
35:11And does he suddenly begin to believe, Maxi Hughes, that he can do something late on here?
35:18Vizioli cut left eye.
35:21Vizioli cuts have hampered Vizioli, and now he's got a bit of a last few minutes to get through, Sonny
35:29here.
35:30Yeah, but Maxi had to start now.
35:32Where Giorgio's getting told, just plenty of the same, stay in control.
35:35Maxi's getting told, if you don't go now, that's it, the fight's done.
35:38Well, he is going.
35:38Obviously, Maxi's coming out, he's having more success, but he is going, he is committing.
35:43But how much, how are we going to see Maxi try and build on this?
35:48So it's the right bit, it's the right push him for a minute.
35:51You have to keep going now.
35:52He needs to do some damage, and he really needs to make sure that Giorgio's going down, I think.
35:56If this just goes to the end, even if he wins all of these rounds, it's still a clear Giorgio
36:00fan.
36:00Yeah, he needs to sustain this, Maxi Hughes.
36:03Best couple of minutes, though, in a long, long time, in this fight for Maxi Hughes.
36:09And they'll be pleased with him in that red corner.
36:12They've obviously read him the right attacks and said,
36:15you've got to do something quick to change the pattern.
36:18And Vizioli is cut, and he's losing the round, the youngster from all the shots.
36:24But he's stubborn, Vizioli.
36:26Look, he won't get pushed back, he won't get bullied.
36:28Creeping back to the centre of the ring, getting behind the jab.
36:32I can hear that blood is streaming down the left side of that eye.
36:37Well, now we're learning, aren't we, something about him?
36:43And do you know what?
36:43I think a little bit of discomfort has switched on Giorgio a little bit.
36:47I think he was just quite relaxed for quite a few rounds in a row,
36:50and he was just in his same rhythm because he'd been dictating it.
36:53So when Maxi's changed, he has had a bit of success.
36:55That cut in a bit of an awkward place, but...
36:58Jimmy Tibbs, one of the best in the business, going straight to work on that.
37:01Jimmy Tibbs will, but Sean O'Hagan will be pleased with his charge in the corner.
37:06A Maxi Hughes round.
37:09Giorgio, Giorgio, yeah.
37:10You all right, if it was done?
37:12Listen to me, listen to me.
37:14You've got to put your left cross in with confidence, yeah?
37:16Hold him up a bit, yeah?
37:18Yeah.
37:18Keep moving your feet.
37:20He's going to present himself.
37:21Yeah.
37:22You're the best counterpuncher.
37:24Yeah.
37:25He's there, the left cross...
37:26Yeah, we believe it was a punch that caused the cut.
37:28Yeah, lovely left hand from Maxi Hughes there,
37:35who really responded well.
37:38You know, he was more forceful on the front foot,
37:40although Giorgio, Sonny, come back, didn't he?
37:43He was stubborn, as I say.
37:44But do you know what, I think that just shows the fight.
37:46Maxi had a really good minute.
37:49Probably landed three or four, maybe five clean shots,
37:52but that's been, you know, the last things he's really done
37:56since that second or third round, I think.
37:57You can see the shot there that caused the cut.
37:59The 70th round of Giorgio Vizioli's career that started in 2023.
38:05We're into the 295th of Maxi Hughes' career,
38:11and the last round was one of the best we've seen in a while from him.
38:15It's just a really, really good response, as I say.
38:17As I said it earlier, you know, he never feels sorry for himself.
38:20He's always trying to find a way, but he needs to build on that.
38:23It was a good last minute, I felt, from Vizioli in that round.
38:26I agree with you, Maxi won the round,
38:28but he needs to start this round with real purpose, belief.
38:36Feet are key.
38:37They're so important for Maxi.
38:39He's got to bring them forward with real speed and intent.
38:48Look at this.
38:49For a young man like Vizioli, Sonny,
38:51just to be able to control it again.
38:53After a good round from Maxi Hughes.
38:56Really impressive.
38:58Mature way above his years, and that's why he's taking fights like this,
39:01and that's why he's on the trajectory of his career that he is.
39:05Giorgio's a very determined, very ambitious fighter.
39:08Very focused and disciplined right now, I feel.
39:10I mean, you're very excited about him, aren't you?
39:12I mean, you've got a lot of fighters you look after or you help out,
39:15but this guy you've always told us, Vizioli.
39:18Because I think he's that good,
39:20and as much as it's been the sort of highlight reel knockouts
39:23that sort of turn people's heads.
39:24For me, when he boxes under control,
39:27when he boxes disciplined and switched on,
39:29he's electric, he's landing constantly,
39:32he's barely getting caught himself.
39:34I think we saw him get caught more in that last round
39:36than we have pretty much all his other fights put together,
39:39with how good defensively he is.
39:40But this is what happens when you step up levels,
39:43and you're fighting a very good fighter in Maxi Hughes.
39:46Lovely jabs from Maxi Hughes and some shouts from the red corner.
39:49They believe their man is coming right back into it.
39:53We don't know how the three judges are seeing it.
39:55Surely Vizioli is ahead, but Hughes is coming back at him.
39:59And look, you can't teach or buy this experience.
40:02You've got to earn it.
40:03You've got to be in there with someone who's proven,
40:06who's well-rounded, who's been there, who's done it,
40:08like Maxi Hughes.
40:09And so far, he's looking really good,
40:11and yeah, he's going to have to overcome obstacles and hurdles
40:14and moments where Maxi's going to have joy.
40:20But for the most part, he's controlled it,
40:23and he's ticking the box.
40:25And this is what Maxi is good at.
40:27He's good at making you feel like his target's there to be hit.
40:30And then as you reach for it, he was just at the wrong range,
40:32and then he's popped round, and he's landed a shot of his own.
40:35But he is struggling to build on anything from the last round,
40:38I think here.
40:39I think Giorgio's completely controlled, dictated with the lead hand.
40:43Maybe one or two shots from Maxi,
40:45but he's not committed like I expected him to
40:48after the success of his eighth round.
40:49You almost get the impression, the feeling,
40:51he's a bit wound up, the video,
40:53that he perhaps gave that round away.
40:57Really fired up now.
41:06Meanwhile, backstage, Sonny, you're going to be part of this.
41:10Talk me through Dalton Smith's final preparations with his dad.
41:14Do you know what?
41:15Obviously, Grant and Dalton,
41:17two of the standout father-son partnerships that we've seen,
41:23especially in recent years,
41:24since the likes of Joe Kawasaki and Enzo,
41:26and they know each other very well.
41:28It's always quite a calm, quiet,
41:30and methodical change of room for Dalton.
41:32It's not all bells and whistles and excitement.
41:35It's just about being relaxed.
41:36He doesn't need any false confidence.
41:39He knows how good he is.
41:40He knows how strong he is.
41:41He knows what he brings.
41:42Don't get me wrong.
41:43The challenge is understood.
41:45The level of fight that he's about to walk into
41:47is known.
41:48It's been well prepared for.
41:50Of course, Grant leading the corner.
41:52He got Pearce as well.
41:53What were your last words for you to Dalton,
41:55do you think, before battle?
41:57Just chin him.
42:01Honest to the core.
42:02Just chin him.
42:03Just chin him.
42:04And I think Maxi Hughes needs to do just that to Giorgio Vizioli here,
42:08who has commanded the ring beautifully at times.
42:11There's been tricky moments.
42:14Maxi Hughes has had the odd bit of success,
42:17and you can see why he's been such an experienced and good fighter for this country.
42:22And as I said in the ring walk,
42:25we all love Maxi Hughes,
42:26and he's provided a stern test here for Giorgio Vizioli,
42:30but at the moment Vizioli seems to be coping with it.
42:34Yeah, I mean, I echo everything you say there about Maxi Hughes.
42:36What a great fighter he's been.
42:38He can really be proud of himself.
42:39Not just what he's done in the past,
42:41but what he's tried this evening.
42:43You know, he's just been second best,
42:44and it's been the youth, the speed.
42:47And you have to say, I mean, Sonny said it,
42:49a maturity above his age from Vizioli,
42:52who's managed the fight really well,
42:54by a couple of patches for Maxi Hughes.
42:57It's been a good performance.
42:58And what's that cliche, though?
43:00A good right hand takes you around the block,
43:02but a good jab takes you around the world,
43:04and I think that's really what Giorgio's showing more than anything.
43:06He hasn't needed much more
43:08for the most parts of this fight than his lead hand.
43:10He's not needed it.
43:11Darren mentioned something there, though.
43:13Fight management, that's been good,
43:14and for a 23-year-old.
43:16Yeah, and this is all the experience that he needs.
43:18He's got very, very high ambition,
43:20so having a couple of rounds
43:22where you have to think about it,
43:23have to maybe, oh, there we go, good backhand.
43:26But at the same time, constantly scoring.
43:28So the more he goes and throws, Giorgio,
43:30is the only time he's really given
43:32an opportunity for Maxi to get anything.
43:35Game, decent work from Maxi Hughes
43:38inside the last minute and a hole.
43:40Oh, good shot from Giorgio.
43:41Yeah, nice run.
43:41Oh, and a lifter.
43:42And now he opens up here.
43:44So I love seeing this.
43:46I love the safety-first approach.
43:48I really do.
43:49That's how I box.
43:50But when he goes through the gears,
43:52when he knows he can go through the gears,
43:54I mean, he is so good to watch.
43:58And look at that.
43:59In and out.
44:00This is a good patch here for Vizioli.
44:03Maxi Hughes has played his part,
44:05and it was a jump up for Vizioli.
44:09Goal heads there.
44:11I guess the right match at the right time.
44:13Exactly.
44:14You put Maxi Hughes in with another,
44:16Maxi Hughes, another 36-year-old,
44:18it'll give him a torrid time.
44:19But, you know, father time waits for no one.
44:22You know, eventually you're going to get in there
44:24with someone who's just a bit fast,
44:26a bit, you know, just younger and fresher.
44:31And there's the jab you're talking about, Sonny,
44:33just see him home.
44:35Yeah, it's tremendous all night.
44:37It really is.
44:38I'm loving the discipline.
44:40This sort of discipline performance
44:41is going to see him go through the levels.
44:43It's going to see him win the titles
44:45that his ability deserve.
44:47Now, I know Darren wants to crash Bangor Wallet,
44:49but you're probably going to see it right now
44:50here from Giorgio, the type of fighter he is.
44:52See, he'll finish on it.
44:53He'll show you he can do it.
44:55But at what point do we need to give Maxi a chance?
44:58For me, none.
44:59Great performance, Giorgio Vicioli.
45:00Yeah, that's the W.
45:02Maxi Hughes knows it.
45:04Respect, as always,
45:06for the man from Rossington in Yorkshire.
45:09But although there were glimmers
45:11of what he's done before,
45:13he was second best
45:14with the freshness and flow
45:16and rhythm of Giorgio Vicioli,
45:19who controlled the ring well tonight.
45:22They'll be pleased in the corner.
45:23Sean O'Hagan with their charge.
45:25Maxi Hughes, that's no one down ever.
45:28And apart from the cut
45:29and a pretty wobbly eighth round,
45:33Vicioli gets the best win of his career.
45:36Three judges will make it official.
45:38Exactly that.
45:39Look, this was a test.
45:40This was a step up.
45:41You know, this was a building block
45:44for what potentially could lie ahead
45:46for Giorgio Vicioli.
45:47And he's passed with flying colours.
45:48He really has.
45:49I mean, he's going to be tough to beat
45:51with his know-how,
45:52his concentration,
45:53that maturity that he's got
45:54for such a young man,
45:56the speed of hand, of foot.
45:57He really will go places.
46:00Credit to Maxi Hughes.
46:01He tried.
46:02He really did.
46:03Late on,
46:04but second best this evening.
46:09The big fights keep coming
46:11week in, week out.
46:13Saturday, December the 5th.
46:15Connor Walker, there he is.
46:17He's back in front of his beloved
46:18Wolverhampton fans.
46:20And he's in with the American Alexis Rocha,
46:23who we saw out in Vegas recently
46:25on the Garcia Benville.
46:27What an exciting fighter he is
46:29and what a match that's going to be.
46:31WBA World Title Eliminator
46:33live on DAZN.
46:34You're going to see much more
46:36of Giorgio Vizioli.
46:38There's the team around him.
46:41Sonny will be happy.
46:42And so,
46:43the tips,
46:45father-son combination.
46:47And the cup doesn't look too bad.
46:50Giorgio Vizioli's toughest examination
46:53to date.
46:54Still just 23.
46:55And surely the judges' cards
46:58are a formality.
46:59Sean O'Hagan just
47:00applauding the Maxi Hughes fans
47:02who've come.
47:04And, um...
47:06He's done his best, Maxi,
47:08at the age of 36.
47:09And big respect to him
47:10in fight number 41.
47:13Maybe we will get one more
47:15from that man,
47:16Josh Warrington.
47:17And Maxi,
47:18well, he'll go out
47:19on his own accord.
47:21He played his part
47:23in that 10-rounder.
47:26That's speed.
47:27What next is interesting, Adam?
47:29You know,
47:29where did he go, Giorgio?
47:30For Vizioli.
47:31Yeah, I mean...
47:32What do you think?
47:32Well, I mean,
47:33you look at it.
47:33Sam Mox,
47:34Joe Gordina,
47:35Zelfa Baron,
47:36Lua Doherty.
47:38Well, Lua Doherty
47:39and Michael Gomez
47:40have got to have a rematch,
47:41haven't they?
47:43We've got the European champion,
47:44Joe King Garcia.
47:46There's plenty of options
47:48for Vizioli.
47:50He's young,
47:51he's hungry
47:51and he's very dedicated.
47:53As for Maxi Hughes,
47:54he owes us absolutely nothing.
47:56If he walks away tomorrow,
47:59we'll always love him.
48:01And if he fights on,
48:02he fights on.
48:03It's his decision.
48:05Not official, of course,
48:07and last week we thought
48:08Michael Gomez
48:09had won fairly comfortably
48:10against Lua Doherty
48:12and it was a draw,
48:13so you never know.
48:14And it's taking
48:15a long time here,
48:16but surely,
48:18surely only one winner.
48:28Ladies and gentlemen,
48:30after 10 rounds
48:31of action
48:32here at Sheffield,
48:33we go to the judges
48:34score totals
48:35and they read
48:36as follows.
48:38Lee Avery,
48:4095,
48:4195 even.
48:43Well, there we go.
48:45John Yona
48:46and Ray Donesco
48:48both scored this
48:49about 96 to 94.
48:51Close.
48:52For your winner
48:52by majority decision.
48:54He's still undefeated
48:57and the new
48:59WBC
49:00International
49:01Silver Lightweight Champion,
49:05Giorgio
49:06Giorgio
49:07Vizzioli.
49:09Well, that's how
49:10the three judges
49:11had it
49:11by two
49:12on two cards
49:14and one
49:15level.
49:16So,
49:17you never know,
49:18subjective around
49:19the ring.
49:20Right decision,
49:21Giorgio Vizzioli
49:22remains undefeated
49:24in 12.
49:25But Maxi Hughes,
49:26Darren got a great deal
49:27more credit
49:27from the judges.
49:29Giorgio
49:29Giorgio
49:29Giorgio
49:29Giorgio
49:29Giorgio
49:30Giorgio