Flanagan vs. Mathews Confirmed, 2/13 In Liverpool

By Elliot Foster

Derry Mathews will challenge for the world title in his home city.

The likeable Scouser (38-9-2, 20 KOs) is set for a hometown showdown against WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan, live on BoxNation.

Mathews, who was slated to challenge for the WBA title in the nine-stone nine division against Richar Abril earlier this year, will come up against his Manchester rival on February 13, 2016 at the Echo Arena.

He recently vacated his WBA interim title, which Kevin Mitchell will fight Ismael Barroso for on December 12 at London’s O2 Arena, in order to face undefeated Flanagan (29-0, 12 KOs), who had been set to box next month.

But before he fights in the East Lancs derby, Mathews must come through his eight-round fight against an opponent to be named on December 19 at Manchester Arena.

For his part, Flanagan won the vacant world title with a two-round TKO of Mexico’s José Zepeda back in July at the Manchester Velodrome and then, when he was called upon to do so, ousted his mandatory challenger, America’s Diego Magdaleno, inside two rounds last month.

“I’m thankful that the fight’s happening and I’m buzzing that [my manager] Daniel [Kinahan] and [my promoter] Frank [Warren] have managed to make it happen in my home city,” Mathews told BoxingScene.

“The champion will have to come out of home comforts and into my back yard, but will he hold up?

“Terry Flanagan’s a good fighter, but everyone is raving about him. Yes, he beat me in Prizefighter, but that was over three rounds.

“He hasn’t been in one tough, gruelling 12-round fight yet and I believe that I’ll take him there. I believe I’ll take him to places that he has yet to be taken and I know that I have what it takes to beat him and win the world title.

“He’s the best thing since sliced bread, according to the fans, after beating Magdaleno, but I’m only going to get one shot at winning a proper world title and I am going to prove that when he walks out in front of my crowd, the Liverpool crowd, he won’t be able to cope and he will be leaving the Echo Arena and heading back to Manchester with no belt."

But Flanagan insists that he will be the winner of the fight that has been nearly six months in the making.

He told the Queensberry Promotions press office: “It’s a fight he’s wanted and I’ve wanted so now lets get down to business and settle who’s the best, which I know will be me.

“I’m more than confident in winning so I’ve got not problem heading into his backyard and beating him in front of his home fans. I’ve got massive support in Liverpool as well so I’ll have some of the crowd behind me.

“I’m not writing Mathews off as he’s a good and experienced fighter, he’s held a version of the world title and he’ll rise to the fight against me.

“His style is made for me and I can see myself breaking him down from the start and getting the stoppage.”

The pair are promoted by Frank Warren and the Hall of Fame man has chipped in after the confirmation of the eagerly anticipated clash.

He said: “You can’t beat an all-British world title fight for rivalry and passion and Flanagan versus Mathews has it all plus revenge which adds more spice to the fight. Flanagan is the world champion and he showed how ferocious he can be when he destroyed Magdaleno in what was for me one of the best performances by a defending British world champion in many years.

“He’s going to be up against it with Mathews, who’s got the experience to cause Flanagan plenty of problems and he’s certainly fired up for the fight with so much riding on the outcome for the winner and the loser.”

Tickets for the showdown go on sale on Monday, November 30, with further details to follow.