By Shaun Brown
Following on from Saturday’s story by Boxing Scene’s Elliot Foster about a possible WBO lightweight title clash between champion Terry Flanagan and challenger Derry Mathews in the New Year https://www.boxingscene.com/flanagan-mathews-showdown-eyed-new-year--97861 , ‘Scene contacted promoter Frank Warren for an update on the situation.
“I’m due to have a meeting with Terry Flanagan and [his manager] Steve Wood just to confirm where the fight’s taking place,” Warren told us.
We understand that Flanagan's team are keen to have the fight at home in Manchester with Liverpool, Mathews' home city, considered as another option. Despite this obstacle it looks likely that this fight will go ahead early next year.
Flanagan (29-0, 12 KOs) has been one of the stand-out performers of 2015 after defeating Stephen Ormond in a rough WBO European lightweight title clash back in February before capturing world honours against Jose Zepeda five months later when the American had to retire in the second round due to a dislocated shoulder.
The 26-year-old quashed any doubts about his credentials as a champion just last month when mandatory challenger Diego Magdaleno was on the receiving end of a two-round annihilation from the Mancunian in his first title defence.
Mathews, (38-9, 20 KOs) has had boxing’s version of a career rollercoaster after being written off by so many when losing to the likes of Emiliano Marsili, Gavin Rees as well as two losses in the round-robin Prizefighter competition in recent years. The popular Liverpudlian is now on a four-fight winning streak and produced a hard-fought performance to defeat Tony Luis last time out and claim the WBA interim 135lb belt.
Mathews will return to action beforehand on December 19 as part of the Andy Lee-Billy Joe Saunders undercard at the Manchester Arena.
Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene’s UK Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0 or contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com
