BOXING: Joe Hughes has Georgian on his mind

Mikheil Avakyan is the 24-year-old Malmesbury boxer’s opponent and the Georgian now represents the only obstacle between Hughes and a tilt at the the English super lightweight title, for which he has been made the mandatory challenger to Matchroom Sport fighter Tommy Martin by the British Boxing Board of Control.

After seeing his career stall through a combination of lack of fights and injury, Hughes’s rise up the rankings is gathering pace – his last three bouts have all produced titles and with the English Championship on the horizon he faces the possibility of winning a fourth victory belt in little more than a year against the unbeaten Martin.

Firstly he must overcome the experienced Avakyan, a lower-rated countryman of Jaba Shalutashvili, the Georgian boxer he stopped to win the vacant IBO international title.

“Avakyan is another Georgian who has been around the block,” said Joe. “He is a year younger than me but he has had more stoppage wins than I have had fights. He has gone in the ring against Kevin Mitchell, who is about to challenge for a world title so it should be entertaining.

“I’m very excited about it. I was born in Bath, won my first title there and I am hoping to build up a fan base in the city.

“I’m feeling better for the smaller gaps between fights. Making the weight has become easier and the busier I’ve been has been reflected in better performances.”

Avakyan is a veteran of 52 fights but his record suggests he does not travel well. Of 18 bouts outside his native Georgia he has lost 17, gaining his only away victory in China.

He proved no match for Mitchell in their clash at Liverpool’s Echo Arena in March, 2014, but on his only other appearance in the UK he lost a split decision to Chris Goodwin for the vacant WBF world welterweight title. To help get the 800-capacity Bath Pavilion rocking you can buy tickets from Joe himself on 07878 454570.