I returned to boxing to lose baby weight and ended up becoming world champion at 40 less than a year after turning pro
Nina Hughes has had an extremely accelerated professional boxing career, winning a world title after just five fights.
But, her journey in the sport has been far more complicated and difficult than that fact might suggest.
Hughes began boxing as a 25-year-old and fought for Team GB as an amateur, but failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics due to the fact she tried to qualify in the same weight class as two-time Olympic gold medallist, Nicola Adams.
Following this personal disappointment, Hughes decided to step away from boxing, as she told talkSPORT: "I did look at turning professional at the time, but there were no opportunities for professional women back then in this country. I was told you had to go to Germany or America."
During her three years away from the sport, Hughes had a baby, which is what motivated her to get back into the gym.
"I took some time out and had my first child, put on loads of weight and I thought I'd get back into the gym to lose the weight," Hughes said.
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"Then I thought, I'll have one fight and that's it, I didn't think I'd carry on.
"So, I had one amateur fight and really started enjoying it again, I fell back in love with the sport and carried on.
"Then when I had my second child, I was training throughout my pregnancy and was back in the gym three weeks after."
Hughes continued: "Back then I still didn't think I would ever turn professional, I just had no interest in it because I knew how hard it was selling the tickets and unless you had an Olympic medal or a big promotion I knew it was difficult.
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"So, I had no interest in turning professional. My manager had tried to get me to do it, but I couldn't be arsed to sell tickets.
"I wanted to win one more ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) title and then retire."
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Hughes saw more women boxing on TV on the professional circuit, she was swayed.
"Then lockdown happened and I was still training throughout at home," Hughes explained. "I've got a bag in my garage and I was running.
"That was when they started showing female professional boxing on TV, there were a lot of fights in Eddie Hearn's garden and there were people who I'd sparred and I thought, 'I can do this'.
"Professional gyms were open but amateur gyms were shut, and I thought even if I don't get anywhere, if I try I'll have no regrets, so I went into a pro gym and here I am now."
And by 'here', Hughes means she is the reigning WBA bantamweight world champion, having achieved that feat at 40 years old, less than a year after turning professional.
Hughes made her pro debut in December 2021 and after putting together four wins she got a shot at the world title, beating Jamie Mitchell by unanimous decision.
"I always believed I could do it, I just never thought I would be lucky enough to get the opportunity," Hughes said.
As for how that opportunity came about, Hughes revealed: "On Twitter, Jamie Mitchell was moaning and I said, 'I'm more than ready to fight you, give me the opportunity.'
"She took offence and started saying she was going to snap my neck and whatever else and the fight was made.
"It was quite surprising really, so I got the opportunity and there was no way I was letting it go.
Since that world title win, Hughes' career has slowed somewhat, having only fought once in 2023 and so she has to work part-time outside of boxing to pay the bills.
"I still have a job outside of boxing and work part-time as a legal secretary," Hughes said.
"This year has been quite a frustrating year and luckily I didn't give up my job because I've only boxed once this year and you only get paid if you box.
"I've been chasing the big fights but unfortunately they haven't been able to be made."
In terms of which big fights Hughes is chasing, she made her plan very clear and it's all about unification bouts.
"Ever since I won my world title that's all I've wanted, I had my first defence and then I wanted to aim for unifications.
"I was chasing Ebanie Bridges' belt, but she's no longer got it, so I want [Miyo] Yoshida, I definitely want the big unifications.
"Ideally I fight Yoshida, win her belt and then go into a big undisputed fight with Dina Thorslund.
"It's literally two fights and I could be undisputed champion, so that's the dream, but whether they can be made is another matter."
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At 41 years old, Hughes is not expected to continue competing too much longer, but even if she becomes undisputed world champion, she is not ruling out fighting on.
"You can never tell," Hughes said. "That's the end goal, but you can't say when the end will be."
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