Anthony Yigit successfully defended his European Super-Lightweight title on Saturday night in Leicester, defeating Joe Hughes via unanimous decision.
The 26 year old Swede didn’t get off to the best starts, with his opponent Hughes causing the champion problems in the first couple of rounds and gaining the upper hand on points.
Both fighters battled hard throughout, with Hughes showing his bravery and intent to cause the champion problems but the Swede upped his game and increased his speed and work rate to gain the victory by Unanimous Decision.
After the fight, Hughes, 26, spoke of his opponent and said, “He’s a very good champion and he just out-hustled me on the day. I can normally work hard and I’m normally the one coming on strong and this time it was Anthony on top of me towards the end of the fight. But fair play to him, credit to him, he beat me on the night.”
“Fair play to Anthony, he’s a gentleman. In the sport nowadays I think there is a bit too much trash-talking and people talking rubbish trying to hype the fights and Anthony has been nothing but a gentleman in the build-up.”
Yigit also had some respectful words for Hughes after the fight.
“At the beginning he came in strong, just like we anticipated. He’s got a hell of a left hand, I’ve got to give him that. He’s a great fighter. He’s not ducking any one. He takes all the fights and fair play to him, he’s bringing out the best out of every one.”
A potential opponent for Yigit was said to have been WBC Silver Super-Lightweight champion, Josh Taylor, who was at ringside for the fight, but Yigit claims that he will make weight too easily and that he is looking to step down to nine stone nine.
