Giorgio Visioli beats Maxi Hughes to win WBC International Silver lightweight title

Giorgio Visioli beat Maxi Hughes by majority decision to win the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday 24 October.

Two judges scored the ten-round contest 96-94 for Visioli, while the third returned a 95-95 draw. The 23-year-old extended his unbeaten professional record to 12 wins, including six knockouts.

The fight was the chief support to Dalton Smith’s WBC title defence against Alberto Puello, with the WBC describing it as the biggest win of Visioli’s professional career.

Giorgio Visioli edges Hughes on the scorecards

Visioli needed the full distance to overcome the experienced Hughes, with two narrow winning cards separating the pair.

Judge Lee Every scored the contest 95-95, while Rey Danseco and Jon Llona Fernandez both favoured Visioli by two points, according to The Ring.

The meeting of southpaws tested Visioli’s ability to manage distance against an opponent with considerably more professional experience. His jab helped him establish control during spells of the contest, but Hughes remained a threat.

The eighth round brought Visioli’s most difficult passage. Hughes landed to head and body as the younger fighter began bleeding from a cut above his left eye.

The Ring reported that Visioli responded by returning to his jab in a controlled ninth round, which its report awarded to him, before completing the final round to preserve his unbeaten record.

Neither boxer scored a knockdown, according to Boxing News 24’s report. Visioli’s movement and combinations helped him through, although Hughes made the closing stages uncomfortable.

From English champion to international title

Visioli arrived in Sheffield having already established himself at English title level. He beat Joe Howarth over ten rounds in December 2025 to win the vacant English lightweight championship.

He then defended that belt against Levi Giles in March 2026, winning by unanimous decision. The judges scored that contest 100-89, 99-90 and 99-90.

Hughes presented a different examination. A former IBO lightweight champion, the veteran brought experience of longer fights and opponents beyond the domestic circuit.

Visioli relinquished his English title before facing Hughes. He leaves Sheffield with the WBC International Silver belt, having been required to recover from a difficult round rather than enjoy the comfortable margins of his previous defence.

What next for Giorgio Visioli?

Before facing Giles, Visioli told DAZN he was targeting the British title by the end of 2026.

For Hughes, the result was a third successive defeat and left his professional record at 29 wins, ten losses and two draws.

He lost a majority decision to Bakhodur Usmonov in Dubai in December 2025, as covered in BoxingScene’s report, before moving up to face Pierce O’Leary in March.

Hughes retired on his stool after five rounds against O’Leary in Dublin, where the vacant IBO super-lightweight title was at stake. His return to lightweight produced another defeat, although the scorecards in Sheffield showed how closely he pushed Visioli.

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Giorgio Visioli vs Maxi Hughes: your questions answered

Who won Giorgio Visioli vs Maxi Hughes?

Giorgio Visioli won by majority decision after ten rounds to claim the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title.

What were the scorecards?

Rey Danseco and Jon Llona Fernandez scored it 96-94 to Visioli. Lee Every scored it 95-95.

What is Giorgio Visioli’s record?

Visioli is unbeaten at 12-0, with six wins by knockout.

What is Maxi Hughes’ record?

Hughes, a former IBO lightweight champion, is now 29-10-2.