Hughes has not enjoyed the best of relationships with Pulis

Mark Hughes, the Stoke City manager, is preparing for the big fight this weekend — before he locks horns with nemesis Tony Pulis.

Hughes, whose Stoke side clash with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Sunday lunchtime, is concerned his players will be distracted by the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor showdown in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Welshman refused to shake the hand of Pulis, the West Brom head coach, when the sides met in the same fixture last season.

Tensions had been brewing between the two camps following Saido Berahino’s drawn out transfer to Stoke and things came to a head when news of the striker’s drugs ban was leaked on the eve of the game. Stoke captain Ryan