By Terence Dooley
Brian Hughes has taken his last training session at the Moston and Collyhurst Boy’s Club after announcing that he is retiring from the sport of boxing. Hughes coached Pat Barrett, Michael Jennings, Robin Reid, Thomas McDonagh and current super-bantamweight prospect Scott Quigg as well as many other boxers. The 71-year-old authored a slew of books on fight figures such as Willie Pep, Sugar Ray Robinson and Tommy Hearns.
“I would have loved to have helped take them [his current prospects] to world championships. For the past 50 years I have devoted my life to the club and unfortunately it has had to end for me. But I wish those lads every good wish and pray they become a credit to their families and themselves,” said Hughes when confirming his decision to the Middleton Guardian.
Hughes always stressed the importance of having good technical ability and a tight defence, he also tried to instil discipline in his fighters, believing that they should conduct themselves well both inside and outside the ring.
Brian has been in the sport for over fifty years; he started out by guiding amateur fighters, winning a stack of national titles in the unpaid ranks before striking out into the paid code. His greatest night came when Reid won the WBC 168lb title in 1996, ‘The Grim Reaper’ successfully defended the title three times and pushed then-WBO boss Joe Calzaghe hard during a split decision loss.
Barrett and McDonagh are set to continue Brian’s good work, both men recently told me that they hope to keep their mentor’s name in the boxing headlines by producing a new generation of Hughes-inspired boxers.
From the Navy, through to coaching and then onto a successful career as a boxing historian, Hughes made a massive impact on his community and was awarded the MBE for services to the local area.
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