Beeston’s undefeated super featherweight, Joe Underwood Hughes, returned with a victory at the weekend.

Managed by Scott Calow, Hughes, 24-years-old, stepped back between the ropes in Sheffield at the weekend on the Live FightZoneTV card, taking on debutant Sam Melville over four rounds.

Hughes, who made his debut in March 2019, picked up victory in each of his first four outings before a covid-ravaged fight calendar over the past fifteen months.

Although untroubled over the four rounds, Hughes, whose previous outing was a six rounder against Joe Beeden in Nottingham last year, is aware of his need to continue gaining experience and feels that, although it was a comfortable, 40-36 victory, he expected better.

“I know I’ve a lot of catching up to do having had no amateur career,” Joe told the Nottingham Sport.

“But, there was no specific point (against Melville) where I felt troubled.

“I just wanted to get in there, and get the ring rust off, and get some more rounds in.

“Initially, I expected better, but, after so long without fighting, and to be coming back in-front of TV cameras, overall, I was happy with it.

“I won the first two rounds comfortably, then as the fight wore on, we just tried things that we’d been working on in the gym.”

As this was Hughes’ first outing since the world was plunged into a covid-chaos, he also had to experience a new way of fight build-up, pre-shows, at present, and with guidance from the BBBoC, are conducted within a ‘fight bubble.’

It’ll be something in which he’ll be experiencing again later this year, manager Scott Calow announcing two home show, Worksop, and Nottingham, for September and October respectively.

“The whole experience, overall, was good,” explained Joe of his first, ‘fight bubble’ experience.

“It was good, but weird, experiencing my first fight bubble, but needs must, for now anyway.”

Although the Melville fight, on what was a Dennis Hobson-promoted show, was a four rounder, Hughes, having been fighting off-the-grid in the early stages of his pro career, will look to step back up to six rounds in his next outing, before progressing over the coming months.

“I’ve good support, and plenty of time ahead, so just been fighting under the radar really,” stated Hughes.

“My fourth outing was literally the week before we went into the first lockdown, and just been ticking over in the gym since then.

“There’s been a few dates mentioned over the past year or so, but they were either ridiculous, or at short notice.

“We don’t want to be diving in so have just bided our time and waited for the right opportunities to come along.

“Moving forward though, I’ll be stepping back up to six in September, which I’m more suited to and have been telling Scott (Calow) for a while, then hope for eight in October and see what happens after that.

“I’m excited for the two home show though and will be back in camp properly next week, ready to go again.”

Keep up-to-date with the latest on Joe Underwood Hughes via his Facebook facebook.com/jhboxing7

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @legendary_10 Joe Underwood Hughes in action.