In episode #99 we speak with professional boxer Nina Hughes about her late start in boxing, balancing the sport with motherhood, and dealing with the ups and downs of the professional ranks. The conversation offers more than a personal story—it provides a practical look at resilience, adaptability, and coaching considerations for athletes who don’t follow the “typical” path.
A Late Start Doesn’t Mean a Slow One
Nina started boxing at 25, not with competition in mind, but for fitness. A boxercise class with a friend led her to a proper boxing gym, and six months later, she was in the ring for her first scheduled bout. What stands out isn’t just how fast she progressed—but how her passion grew after she started. Within a few years, she was on the GB squad, pushing toward Olympic qualification alongside fighters like Nicola Adams.
“I fell into it completely by accident, really. It wasn’t even something I wanted to do… me and my friend did a boxercise class one day for fitness and I really enjoyed it. And then I ended up joining the boxing gym. But purely for fitness, not because I actually wanted to box or was into boxing.”
– Nina Hughes
For Coaches: Don’t underestimate late starters or members joining “just for fitness”. Beginners’ motivations and mindset can change leading to rapid progress—especially when paired with the right environment and support. Make your gym a place where people feel welcome, no matter when they start.
Olympic Setbacks and Starting Over
Despite getting onto the GB squad and sparring regularly with top-tier fighters, Nina missed out on the 2012 Olympic team. The disappointment led her to step away from boxing altogether, and she assumed that was the end of the road. But after having her first child, something changed. She returned to training for fitness, took one bout to mark the comeback—and reignited her love for the sport.
“It was only after I had my first child that I put on loads of weight. And I thought, you know what? I thought I’m gonna go back to the gym and just train to lose the weight. And I thought I was gonna set myself a target of just having one bout just to lose the weight, and that’s it. That’s all I thought I was gonna do. And I had that one bout and I just started enjoying it again. I sort of fell back in love with the sport.”
– Nina Hughes
For Boxers: There are always ups and downs in boxing. What matters is how you respond when motivation dips. Sometimes, stepping away can help you come back with clearer purpose.
Boxing After Motherhood
Nina’s return wasn’t simple. Like many athletes, she faced the challenge of balancing training with childcare, dealing with the physical demands of recovery, and shedding the weight gained during pregnancy—nearly four stone in her case. Her solution was practical: she leaned on her support network. Family members helped with childcare, the gym welcomed her back, and she adjusted her schedule to fit training around her life.
“Just find a way to work. If you want it enough, you’ll find you’ll be able to adapt your training around your children and you’ll find a way to make it work. And, yeah, your life shouldn’t be put on hold just because you’ve had kids, you can still do the things that you want to do as well.”
– Nina Hughes
For Coaches: If you want to keep more women in the sport—especially mothers—create flexible training options and build a culture that supports their needs without judgement.
From Comeback to Professional Contender
By the time Nina turned professional at 39, there was no time to build slowly. She already had over 70 amateur bouts, so her first three fights included a six-round debut, an eight-rounder, and then a title fight. That first year saw her win the Commonwealth and WBO International titles, and later the WBA bantamweight world title—proof that experience and the right support can carry fighters a long way, even when the window seems narrow.
Her journey also shows how external moments—like watching others compete on TV—can trigger renewed motivation.
“Covid happened, lockdown happened, and they started televising a lot of the female fights on the tv. And I’m watching these girls thinking, I could do this. And I was thinking I could still beat them.”
– Nina Hughes
For Coaches: Intrinsic motivation matters. Help athletes connect with their own “why.” Often, a small reminder of what they’re capable of is all it takes to light the fire again.
Handling Adversity in the Pro Game
In her bout with Cherneka Johnson, Nina faced a controversial moment: after being announced the winner, the decision was suddenly reversed in the ring, without explanation. The scores were read again, and her opponent’s hand was raised. The confusion and silence around the change were hard to accept, but Nina’s response has been to focus on what comes next—a rematch following an official appeal and review.
Regardless of what happens in the twighlight of her boxing career, one thing is certain—Nina won’t have any regrets about her decision to go into pro boxing.
“I’m just going to give it a go. I thought, if I don’t, I’ll probably regret it for the rest of life. And just think, what if, hat if. I thought if I give it a go but I don’t get anywhere, at least I can say I’ve tried but didn’t get anywhere and I’ll have no regret.”
– Nina Hughes
For Boxers and Coaches: Things won’t always go your way—especially in professional boxing. Teach athletes to expect setbacks and handle them with professionalism and composure. Build mental toughness, not just physical fitness.
Takeaways for Coaches
🟠 Support Late Starters: Passion doesn’t have a timeline. Stay open to athletes who arrive with unconventional paths.
🟠 Recognise Life Outside the Ring: Careers don’t exist in a vacuum. Be aware of family, parenting, and work commitments—and coach the whole person, not just the boxer.
🟠 Encourage Resilience: From missed decisions to missed opportunities, adversity is part of the sport. How boxers bounce back is just as important as how they train.
🟠 Promote Lifelong Learning: Nina’s journey included learning when to step back, when to restart, and how to adapt. Coaching should support that mindset too.
Final Thoughts
Nina Hughes’ story is a reminder that success in boxing isn’t just about talent or timing—it’s about persistence, adaptability, and knowing when to push forward. Whether it’s coming back after a loss, balancing family life, or entering the sport late, there are many paths to growth.
For coaches and athletes alike, her experience is a call to build inclusive, resilient training environments that meet people where they are—and help them grow from there.