By Shaun Brown


It was certainly one of the more interesting pieces of matchmaking to take place in Britain this year. Sadly the fight between super-featherweight Maxi Hughes 11-1-1 (1) and former world title challenger Joseph Laryea 17-9 (13) is now off after the Ghanaian suffered a freak injury.


The May 9 show will still go on in Sheffield, England. Topping the bill, Chad Gaynor faces Adil Anwar in a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout. 


Hughes and Laryea were to meet in the chief support. However, Laryea, who once challenged Ricky Burns for the Scot’s WBO Super Featherweight title three years in Glasgow injured his shoulder after slipping in an airport toilet.


The show’s promoter, Dave Coldwell of Coldwell Boxing, who was on his way to the weigh-in for his ‘Unleashed’ show spoke to BoxingScene to give his reaction to the news.


“Where do I start? We got Laryea up here, we had a driver go down and pick him up because he anded at Heathrow Airport yesterday, brought him to the hotel then I was told late last night when he arrived that he’s got an injury and can’t fight. His promoter’s said ‘He’s okay, he’s fighting’. I’ve went down to see him myself this morning and the kid can’t lift his left arm up!


“He was here to win. He looks good, fit and in good shape. He looks the part, he’s alert and ready to fight but he can’t lift his arm up. It’s an absolute nightmare. It was such a good fight. I’m absolutely devastated to be this close and to get the guy here. 


"I feel sick to my stomach. We’ve still got a good show. [Chad] Gaynor and [Adil] Anwar is a great fight and Jerome [Wilson] versus [Serge] Ambono is a great fight but it’s not the show I was hoping for. The show I set out to put on was blinding and it’s not through any fault of my own. It makes you more determined to make your next show even better.”


BoxingScene.com asked Coldwell if any replacement could be found for Hughes and how he dealt with the news.


“We’re trying absolute everywhere. We’re looking at super-featherweights, lightweights and now we’re looking at lightweights just to get Maxi a fight. Maxi’s sound. He’s a good pro. I feel for him. It’s just so frustrating.”


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