NOVEMBER has been a frustrating month for Malmesbury's England international boxer Joe Hughes.

He could only watch from afar as the inaugural World Youth Boxing Championships took place at Guadalajara in Mexico at the start of the month.

Overlooked by the GB team, Hughes noted with interest that Ireland's Jamie Kavanagh got all the way to the final where he was beaten by Cuba's Frank Izla.

Hughes had beaten Kavanagh on the Irishman's home turf in Dublin on his last international outing.

The only two boxers selected for England in Mexico - Ronnie Heffron and Martin Ward - failed to make it past their first contests.

Then, as he prepared for his opening bout of the new season, Hughes was struck down by first a painful shoulder injury and then a severe head cold.

Though, by his own admission, some way short of his best, he was not about to let down his own club, Malmesbury ABC, and he was due to top the bill of a club promotion at Chippenham's Olympiad on Saturday.

Then more frustration. Hughes' opponent, Welsh Junior Champion Dougie Price, pulled out on the Wednesday before the fight with an injured hand.

"Dougie pulling out may have worked in my favour because I couldn't stop coughing over the weekend," admitted Hughes.

"I had previously gone a week and a half without being able to throw a punch with my (stronger) left hand in training," said Hughes. "And just when my shoulder cleared up, with the help of Andy Baldwin from Physio Plus in Chippenham, I went down with the cold.

As for the championships in Mexico, Hughes said: "It was frustrating seeing Jamie doing so well and knowing that I had beaten him, but it has given me even more confidence."

One bit of good news did arrive for Hughes in November. He has been selected to fight for England's U21s at Dublin's National Stadium on December 12.

"I have good memories of Dublin having beaten Jamie there in the summer," he said.

"I am looking forward to it but I can't imagine I will be at my best given the interruptions to my preparation.

"My programme after Dublin will be building up to the Senior ABAs, which I will be entering for the first time and I hope to have three or four fights before the finals in May."

Joe, who is trained by Tony Stannard, Tony Falcone and Gary Williamson at Malmesbury ABC, after his previous coach Graham Hill stepped down, drew more inspiration from Ricky Hatton's world title win on Saturday.

"A mate had the 'Pay Per View' so I went straight around to his place after presenting the prizes at the Olympiad show," said Hughes.

"I try to watch the big fights as there is always something to be learned, and Ricky was much better than in his last two fights."