Hughes given March date for world title rematch

Nina Hughes (right) has won six and lost one of her professional fights

Essex boxer Nina Hughes has vowed to be "ready for anything" when she challenges for the world title she lost in controversial circumstances.

The 42-year-old was declared the winner against Australian Cherneka Johnson last May, only for the ring announcer to correct himself and award a majority verdict to her opponent.

Video of the fight has since been scrutinised and the WBA ordered Johnson to defend her bantamweight belt in a rematch, with the fight now set to go ahead in Sydney on 22 March.

Hughes had hoped the bout could take place in December or this month, but she told BBC Essex: "It's finally confirmed, it's been a long time, waiting. I'm just glad to get the date now. It's full steam ahead, eight weeks to go.

"I don't believe I should have lost it so it would mean everything to bring that belt back again and become a two-time world champion."

Hughes won the title in only her fifth professional bout by outpointing Jamie Mitchell in November 2022, having first taken up the sport at the age of 25.

A successful defence followed against Katie Healy but her unbeaten record came to an end against Johnson, who was eventually awarded a 98-92, 96-94 win on two cards, with the third judge scoring it as a draw.

"The whole thing was controversial, which is why we appealed to the WBA and I'm very grateful to them for recognising the bad judging and making me mandatory (challenger) for the re-match," said Hughes, from Billericay.

"They got neutral judges all round the world to re-judge it and the majority had me winning, hence the reason I've been made mandatory.

"I've got to prove myself again, do what I did last time but even better. I'm confident in myself that as long as we get fair judges, I'll get the win."

Once again, a long journey will be needed with plenty of time to acclimatise before fight night comes around.

She said: "We went (out there) two weeks (before) last time, so we'll probably go two weeks again this time.

"It's even further this time because last time it was in Perth and you could fly direct in 17 hours. This time, it's about 25 hours because you have to stop off."

Neither fighter has been in the ring since their first bout 10 months ago and Hughes said it would be "naive" to think that Johnson will follow exactly the same tactical plan as before.

She said: "I've been working for the last 10 months and improving, so we're both probably going to bring something new to the table, and I'll prepare for everything.

"Her style will probably be pretty much the same, the way she walks forward with her hand up high. She'll probably be busier but I've got to be prepared in case she does bring something completely different.

"We'll have all different sparring partners in and I'll be practising everything just in case."

If Hughes is successful, she wants to press ahead with future fights against rival champions Dina Thorslund (WBC and WBO) and Shurretta Metcalf (IBF)

"I'm not looking too far ahead because I've got to win this one but ever since I won that world title, the goal after that was to become unified (champion) and start collecting the other belts," she added.

"Unfortunately it never materialised but hopefully I get back my world title and we can look into that."

Nina Hughes was speaking to BBC Essex's Sonia Watson