BOXING: Hughes forced to withdraw from Oasis bill (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Malmesbury boxer Hughes faces another lay-off with knee problem

4:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in Sport By Danny Hall, Sports Editor

MALMESBURY boxer Joe Hughes has had to withdraw from his proposed fight with Calum Cooper at Swindon’s Oasis Leisure Centre on March 9 because of a persistent knee problem.

It is particularly frustrating for Hughes who had been sparring with Darren Hamilton ahead of the latter’s unanimous 12-rounds points verdict in his British light welterweight title defence against Steve Williams in Liverpool at the weekend.

Hughes has been to see a knee specialist in Bath and has been diagnosed with iliotibial band syndrome, a condition of the tendon connecting the hip to the knee.

“I thought I had got over the problem, but it does take a long time to heel,” said Hughes. “When I went to Bath, I had an injection in the knee in order to reduce the swelling.

“I have to rest it for a month and then ease back into training so I probably won’t be able to fight for four months.

“It is very frustrating as all I want to do is fight and keep busy.

“The last 18 months have been difficult as I have also been troubled by hand and wrist problems but they have been great recently and the sparring with Darren had been going so well.”

Hughes, a former Senior ABA light welterweight champion, has won six of his seven pro fights, the only blemish coming in a disputed points defeat against Joe Elfidh in Sheffield.