Archie Sharp spent years waiting for a life changing opportunity that never arrived.

Sharp’s name first appeared in the top five of the WBO junior lightweight world rankings back in November 2019. Two years later he hit the number one spot.

Patience may be a virtue but the 30 year-old’s willingness to wait for his title shot only saw it drift further and further away.

Last July, Sharp finally got tired of waiting.

Realising that his world title shot had slipped away and aware that he needed to score a meaningful win to keep himself relevant, Sharp risked his number three ranking and accepted a fight with the talented Ryan Garner. Things didn’t go his way and he lost a unanimous decision.

Earlier this year, illness forced him to withdraw from a comeback fight with Liam Dillon on the undercard of Garner’s European title fight in Bournemouth. A disillusioned Sharp was preparing to travel down to the south coast to provide coverage of the fight week events when his phone lit up.

Out of the blue, Sharp (25-1, 9 KOs) was offered the chance to fight world-ranked lightweight, Maxi Hughes (28-7-2, 6 KOs), at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium on May 23.

He couldn’t say “Yes” quickly enough.

As well has having to prepare for his first genuinely world-ranked opponent, Sharp, 30, will be making his official 135lb debut but rather than worrying, he is relishing the chance to prove that this is the level he should have been campaigning at long ago.

“I’m a massive believer of everything happening for a reason, trust the process. It’s all about timing,” Sharp told The Ring.

“I was struggling at 130lbs. I knew for a long time but I kept clutching at a carrot being dangled because obviously my name was with all the big names - Shakur Stevenson, Oscar Valdez - by being number one in the WBO for two years.

“I was just wanting to get the world title and then move to lightweight. That was the plan. The Garner fight happened, it went the way it did and then I went to lightweight.

“I was scratching my head a little bit thinking what's going to be next and I hear Hughes was looking for a fight. Within twelve hours it was all signed, sealed, delivered.

“I'm ready to get going.”

It is more than six years since Sharp embarked on a run of impressive wins over domestic opponents that catapulted him up the WBO rankings and some smart managerial manoeuvres and matchmaking saw him hit the top spot.

Many will contend that Sharp spent far too long waiting for a chance that seemed to be constantly sliding out of reach but it is equally fair to say that he was hamstrung by the same boxing politics that helped him climb the rankings in the first place.

Lots of fighters drop back down to domestic level to rebuild after coming up short at the highest level but but Sharp’s frustration at being matched with Garner and Dillon was based in the fact that he never got the chance to find out how good he was.

Agreeing to fight Hughes has reignited a competitive spark that had petered out.

“My trainer Richard [Sawyer] said to me the other day, “I don't think you've had this buzz and this sort of camp since when we boxed Lyon Woodstock,”” he said.

“That was back in 2018 and my first title fight. It really put my name on the map and the odds were against me like they are now. I think it's the same odds actually, 4-1 underdog.

“So yeah, like I say, everything happens for a reason. In my eyes, this is my time. I've just turned 30. I feel good for it.

“I want to be with the big names and someone like Maxi Hughes. That’s what gets me out of bed.

“I know I have to be on my A game. I can't just rely on talent. Everything has to be done.”

Hughes is enjoying a prolonged Indian summer to a career that, at one point, seemed to be meandering towards retirement.

At 35 years old, he has become a staple in the higher reaches of the lightweight world rankings and although he suffered a disappointingly one sided loss to current WBC interim champion, William Zepeda, in March 2024, he has rebounded and arguably looked better than ever when dismantling the dangerous Gary Cully last December.

Sharp can find plenty to admire about Hughes. He appreciates the Yorkshireman’s boxing acumen and punch-picking ability but given the struggles and frustrations that he has endured, he also respects the way that Hughes kept plugging away until he forced himself into contention for major titles.

Sharp believes that his skillset will provide Hughes with a whole different set of problems to pose. Rather than pressing forward and playing to the older man’s strengths, Sharp is determined to force the older man to use his legs as well as his brain.

“I'm a big fan of Maxi, and I always have been. I think he's a great kid, a great operator. He's a really good fighter. This is why I've got to be on my A-game,” Sharp said.

“I don't feel like he's boxed anyone with footwork, speed and unorthodox. They've all done the same.

“Gary Cully is a very tall southpaw and he kind of cracks. He went over his front foot, walked Maxi down and he got pinged every time. That's where Maxi's very, very, very good.

“I feel like this is good. Maxi is a perfect opponent to look good against because he’s such a bogey in the lightweight division. Everyone has been avoiding him. Me going and beating him and making a statement, I think that puts me right up there.”