James Melvin Hughes was professional boxer

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

 in the welterweight

Welterweight

Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...

 division.

Boxing career

Known as "Jesse James" and "The Outlaw", Hughes turned professional in 1987 and is perhaps best known for his appearances on the USA Tuesday Night Fights series. During his career he suffered defeats to Maurice Blocker

Maurice Blocker

Maurice Blocker was a professional boxer in the welterweight division.Blocker turned pro in 1982 and lost his first title shot in 1987 to Lloyd Honeyghan. In 1990 he captured the Lineal and WBC Welterweight Titles from Marlon Starling, but lost them in his next fight to Simon Brown...

, Vincent Pettway

Vincent Pettway

Vincent Pettway Vincent Pettway Vincent Pettway (born November 9, 1965 in Baltimore, MD, was a professional boxer in the super welterweight (154lb) division.- Professional career :...

, and James McGirt among others. In 1994 and 1995 he went on a win streak and captured the USBA welterweight championship belt and he appeared headed towards a big payday, but his final bout was to be against Nick Rupa in late 1995.

Murder

Hughes body was found, with bullet holes, face down in a swamp near his home shortly after his fight with Rupa.