Giorgio Visioli Survives Maxi Hughes Scare in Sheffield

Giorgio Visioli edged Maxi Hughes by majority decision on Saturday, October 24, at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, picking up the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title but needing all 10 rounds to get past a veteran who refused to fold. Two judges scored it 96-94 for Visioli, while the third had it a 95-95 draw.

The unbeaten 23-year-old improved to 12-0 with six knockouts on the Dalton Smith vs. Alberto Puello undercard on DAZN. Hughes, who dropped to 29-10-2, made Visioli work far harder than expected in a fight that was still in doubt heading into the 10th round.

What Happened in the Fight

The southpaw matchup turned into a cautious, technical battle rather than the showcase stoppage Visioli had predicted beforehand. Hughes landed clean early, including a flush shot late in round one, while Visioli tried to build rounds with movement and combination punching. The 36-year-old's experience kept the fight tight and denied Visioli the chance to string together sustained control.

Round eight swung hardest toward Hughes. He landed a right-left combination, followed it with a hard body shot, and opened a cut over Visioli's left eye with a jab that visibly unsettled the younger fighter. Hughes kept building from there as Visioli's work rate dipped in the second half, turning the 10th round into a pivotal moment on the cards. There were no knockdowns in the fight, and Hughes' corner reportedly left unhappy with how the scorecards read given how competitive the later rounds were.

What This Result Means for Giorgio Visioli

Visioli leaves Sheffield with a title and a signature result, but also a blueprint for how to beat him. He gave up his English lightweight title to take this fight and got the step up in competition he was looking for, yet the manner of the win raises real questions. Hughes, moving back up from a March loss to Pierce O'Leary at 140 pounds, showed that slowing Visioli's pace and landing the cleaner, heavier single shots can turn a comfortable night into a split verdict. For a prospect being built toward bigger names, fading down the stretch against a battle-tested opponent is the kind of detail future opponents and matchmakers will have already circled.

Betting Angle

Visioli was the kind of short-priced favorite prospects usually are against a faded veteran, and bettors who backed him to win comfortably or inside the distance were left sweating a scorecard that could easily have gone the other way. The eighth round alone was enough to swing a decision bet, and the one judge who saw it a draw suggests the market undervalued how live Hughes still was at this level. Going forward, sportsbooks and matchmakers will likely treat Visioli more cautiously as a betting favorite until he shows he can sustain output over 10 rounds against someone who fights smart rather than fast. Hughes, despite the loss, did enough here to remain live underdog value against other prospects being fast-tracked up the rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the fight between Giorgio Visioli and Maxi Hughes?

Giorgio Visioli won by majority decision over Maxi Hughes on October 24 at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, with two judges scoring it 96-94 and one scoring it 95-95.

What title was on the line in Visioli vs. Hughes?

The vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title was on the line, which Giorgio Visioli won to improve his record to 12-0.

How did Maxi Hughes perform against Giorgio Visioli?

Maxi Hughes, moving back down to lightweight after a March loss to Pierce O'Leary at 140 pounds, pushed Visioli hard, especially in the eighth round when he cut Visioli's eye and hurt him to the body, falling to 29-10-2.