She arrived almost as an unknown to be the star of the main fight. On November 26, in Dubai, British Nina Hughes broke all odds by unanimously defeating American Jamie Mitchell to be crowned the new World Boxing Association 118-pound champion. The judges’ scorecards were 96-94 on two cards and the third by 97-93, all in favor of Hughes.
The contest between the two warriors was a big surprise for the public and even for Mitchell herself, who after losing the crown declared that Hughes turned out to be stronger than she imagined.
Hughes completed her fifth fight here. Yes, with only five professional bouts she is already a world champion. And not only did she upset her opponents in her few fights, but she was also underestimated by her age, as she turned 40 this year. With this feat, she not only consecrated herself and joined the team of current female stars who inspire more girls around the world, but also leaves a message for older women to never give up.
The fighter from Essex, England, has a sporting history in amateurism that endorses her sudden success. In fact, even she herself, in the moments prior to her debut, expressed her confidence in reaching the big chances soon, feeling supported by the harvest collected in amateur boxing: 4 times ABA champion (national in Great Britain), several gold medals in championships in England and she was part of the GB amateur team and participated in the road to London 2012, but Nicola Adamas made it in her place. In the Great Britain boxing team, in those years, she shared training with Savannah Marshall and Chantelle Cameron.
By 2019, in the midst of confinement due to the pandemic health crisis, Nina Hughes made the decision to take the step to pro boxing with the uncertainty that being already “Big” in age, no one would receive her to promote her. However, promoter MTK, who also manages the careers of Marshall and Cameron, opened the doors with full confidence. Hughes sealed the hopes placed in her. Today, she is the 118-pound queen by the pioneering body and completed 5 victories, 2 of which she settled before the limit.
The style of neat, orderly, and solid leg movements, plus the tough spirit in the ring, position her with a promising projection within the division that now reigns with the black and gold belt.
