Flanagan Injury Pushes Back Mathews Clash To March 12

By Elliot Foster

Terry Flanagan has been ruled out of his second world title defence next month after picking up a foot injury.

The WBO lightweight champion, 26, withdrew from the all-North West showdown with Derry Mathews (38-9-2, 20 KOs) after it was revealed that he was suffering from severe tendinitis in his left foot.

Flanagan (29-0, 12 KOs) was set to take on his Liverpool rival, 32, on February 13 at the ECHO Arena, exclusively live on BoxNation.

But the clash, which had been mooted for some time after Flanagan won the crown last July –– before being made official in the latter stages of last year –– has been rescheduled for four weeks later.

The pair will now do battle on the Docklands in the city on Saturday, March 12, with the same undercard.

Tommy Langford (15-0, 5 KOs) defends his WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title against Lewis Taylor (18-1-1, 3 KOs), with the duo contesting the vacant Commonwealth crown in the 160lb division, while Matty Askin (19-3-1, 12 KOs) will defend his English cruiserweight belt in a highly anticipated rematch against Lawrence Bennett (7-1-1, 1 KO).

Among the supporting cast will be former IBF bantamweight Champion Paul Butler (20-1, 11 KOs), Indian superstar Vijender Singh (3-0, 3 KOs), and top hometown talents Tom Stalker (10-1-3, 2 KOs), Steven Lewis (10-0, 5 KOs) , Ryan Farrag (14-1, 3 KOs), Kevin Satchell (14-0, 3 KOs).

Also on the card will be Zelfa Barrett (7-0, 2 KOs) and Lyon Woodstock, the Leicester super featherweight ace, who has a record of 5-0 (3).

Unfortunately, Liam Williams (13-0-1, 8 KOs) has withdrawn from his scheduled defences of the British and Commonwealth super welterweight titles against Nav Mansouri (15-1-2, 5 KOs) with a viral infection.

However, the disappointment of Williams has become the gain of hot Manchester talent Macaulay McGowan (9-0, 1 KO), who has secured a spot on the bill as a result of the Clydach Vale man’s withdrawal.

With regards to the delay on the fight and the withdrawal of world champion Flanagan, his promoter Frank Warren said: “We’re all disappointed that Terry has suffered an injury and is unable to make the original date, but we’ve worked hard to ensure the mouthwatering world title showdown between Flanagan and Mathews remains the top of the bill for a new date.

“I maintain that it’s going to be real war between these two warriors who are going to put everything on the line on the night.

But Flanagan, who iced Diego Magdaleno inside two rounds in October to set up the clash with Mathews, wasn’t so positive.

He said: “This is a real blow to me as I've never pulled out of a fight because of an injury before and I’ve always fought through them, it’s not in my fighter’s make up to pull out of fights and my fans know that about me.

“I always give them 100 per cent when I’m in the ring, no matter what.

“I’ve had to take the advice of the medical specialists to begin physiotherapy. I’ll be taking my treatment as seriously as I’m training for a fight and I will return back to my best, ready to defend my title.”

Tickets purchased with the original date printed on will be valid for use on the new date.

Elliot Foster is part of the BoxingScene.com UK news team. Twitter: @FreelanceFoz