Maxi Hughes is eyeing a mega deal with Top Rank as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career on Saturday.
Hughes (26-5-2) will make his first trip to America on Saturday to face Australian George Kambosos Jr (20-2-0).
The IBO lightweight champion finds himself in an IBF lightweight eliminator against the former unified world champion Kambosos Jr.
Hughes’ reward for a brilliant run of form is a 12-rounder with Kambosos Jr, who has lost back-to-back fights against unified lightweight world champion Devin Haney.
The pair will meet at the Firelake Arena in Oklahoma and underdog Hughes has left nothing to chance in the build up.
"It's good, I've enjoyed it," Hughes said. "They only tried to originally give me limited time out here, but I've paid for myself to come out a bit longer. I looked at the weather forecast and it's red hot here, and with the time difference and stuff, I just thought I'm better off paying that bit extra and coming out early and giving myself the best chance and it's paid off. I'm definitely glad we've come out earlier."
Hughes has the opportunity to announce himself on the world stage, but he knows a defeat could knock him back to domestic level.
"In my early pro years, it was just a fairy tale," Hughes said. "I used to listen to people say, 'It's only the top per cent of fighters that get to do that.' Well, I'm not in the top percentage of fighters and I don't know if I'll ever be but my goal was just to keep chasing the British [title] and once I got that British it was like, 'Right, let's reset the goals now I've achieved that.' Let's go for the world level fights. And I still never knew I'd be fighting over here, so it is fantastic to be here.
"I know it's only the IBO [title], but get rid of George on Saturday and there should be a deal with Top Rank in there for me. That's really where it's pinch yourself stuff. I've had no major amateur career, I was backed by a local small hall promoter and now I'm fighting on the biggest stage possible with the biggest promoter. It's a bit surreal."
