He was so fun to watch for a minute in the 90' s. His performance against a Stephens who had dismissed him was special. He came up the hard way, fighting Pettway, Blocker and McGirt while learning on the job. Tore apart Nick Rupa and then dies mysteriously. Thoughts? Theories on his death?
If I remember correctly, at the time of his death it was written that he had been robbing coke dealers in his home town. And he was shot so I've always assumed one led to the other.
That’s been the prevailing opinion on his death. I’m in Alabama and I knew some of his people (boxing people, not family) and met him a time or two. They worked really hard to keep fights lined up because he tended to get in trouble on the streets when he wasn’t in the gym and the thing about robbing coke dealers was known to those around him. He had an iron chin and an iron will. He didn’t have a second gear but he kept coming at his pace and would wear opponents down. Jesse James probably wasn’t world champ material (maybe if he had come along at just the right time and caught just the right title-holder on just the right night) but he made himself a contender. His fights were always thrilling. Miss the guy. RIP.
Lost and unrealized talent. I remember this guy and his fights were exciting. May very well have become a champion,
Hughes also stopped Stone in the last round in a fight he was losing. Always fun to watch- check out his bout with Anthony Stephens which was awsome.
Tremendously good TV fighter, who had the affliction/gift of not understanding the concept of boundaries to things. It assured him a place in the memories of everyone who saw him, and also doomed him.
