[4] Hughes was part of the initial intake of female boxers into GB Boxing in 2009 but missed out on selection for the London 2012 Olympics with eventual gold medalist Nicola Adams taking the flyweight spot.
[5] She stepped away from the ring and went on to get married and have two children only to be inspired to try her luck in the professional ranks aged 39 by the growing number of female fights being shown on television.
In her third professional contest she claimed the Commonwealth and WBO International female super-bantamweight titles with a majority decision success against Tysie Gallagher at the Civic Hall in her hometown of Grays, Essex, on 30 July 2022.
[7] After one defence, Hughes was given a shot at the WBA female World bantamweight title facing champion Jamie Mitchell at the Hilton Palm Jumeirah in Dubai on 26 November 2022.
[11] At Wembley Arena on 10 June 2023, Hughes made a successful first defence of her crown with a unanimous decision win over Katie Healy[12] [13] who was drafted in as a late replacement when scheduled challenger and former world champion Shannon Courtenay withdrew.