Wildheart aims to follow Hughes' lead to world belt

Lucy Wildheart has won 10 of her 13 professional contests

Essex boxer Lucy Wildheart is set to return to the ring for the first time in two years hoping to emulate close friend Nina Hughes - by winning a world title as a mother.

The 32-year-old, based in Brentwood, believes she will be starting a second ring career when she fights in her native Sweden on Saturday.

Wildheart will take on Hungary's Milena Koleva in a six-round non-title featherweight contest, having stepped away from the ring to have a baby following a third unsuccessful world title challenge in November 2023.

And she has sparred with Hughes, who retired earlier this year, having won the WBA bantamweight belt in only her fifth professional contest back in 2022.

"She's an inspiration to me, we're good friends as well, we've sparred loads over the years - I've always looked up to her, she's tough," Wildheart told BBC Essex.

Wildheart, who has not fought in Sweden since 2018, expects Koleva to be a "lively" opponent but wants competitive contests as she looks to climb back up the rankings.

And she has been helped in her comeback by new trainer, John Ryder of Matchroom Boxing.

"We decided, now I'm on my second career, to find a new trainer closer to home and John has done a lot for me, he's trained me really well," Wildheart added.

"He has so much knowledge he can share with me. I'm super excited just to have him in the corner."

Wildheart was out driving in her car with her week-old son in the back when the sudden realisation came to her that she could reach a new level in the ring.

"I haven't reached my top yet," she added. "I don't know if it's the pregnancy itself or sitting on the side and watching boxing for a while, made me think 'I can do this, I can be much, much better'.

"It's a mental thing that has come to me, the real fire has appeared to me, and everyone around me I'm training with, my friends and family, I can see the change in them really believing it (in me). Maybe it's just happiness - but that is strong."

Wildheart believes another world title opportunity is unlikely before the end of next year or the early part of 2027.

She added: "I'm going to keep winning but I'm working up from the bottom again because I've been out for a while. We'll have to see what we can do. I've got loads of time, I'm only 32, so there's no stress."

Lucy Wildheart was speaking to BBC Essex's Ian Puckey