By Elliot Foster
Derry Mathews has conceded that a world title fight is well within his sights.
The likeable Liverpool lightweight has been linked with WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan numerous times since the Mancunian won the vacant crown in July.
Mathews, the WBA interim titlist, hasn’t fought since April –– when he beat Tony Luis to win the aforementioned title –– but is set to return to the fray on December 19 at Manchester Arena, against an opponent to be named, as part of promoter Frank Warren’s ‘Xmas Cracker’ card, which is in association with Adam Booth.
Warren’s final card of 2015 is topped by a pair of WBO world title fights as Andy Lee defends his middleweight crown against mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders and Liam Smith makes the first defence of his super welterweight trinket against Wythenshawe’s Jimmy Kelly Jr.
BoxingScene reported last weekend that a fight between Mathews and Flanagan is currently being discussed, with a meeting set up for later this week to determine where it would take place.
A February 13, 2016 date is being eyed for the card on which the clash will feature.
And Derry, who has been ordered by the WBA to defend his interim crown against number two-ranked Venezuelan Ismael Barroso, has backed down slightly in his staunch defiance that the fight is non-existent and pure speculation.
“I think everyone knows what’s round the corner,” said Mathews, who has previously denied that a fight between himself and Flanagan is on the cards.
“My management team are working on something massive for me and it’ll be announced soon, but I’ve just got to get the win in December and then I know that the big one is there for me in February.
“I’m not just going in there to take part, I’m going in there to win it and I’m hopefully going to win it on my home turf."
Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz
