Terry Flanagan - In-Depth on Crolla, Verdejo, Return, What's Next

By Chris Williamson

With the dust settled from last weekend's lightweight 'unification of sorts' which saw Venezuelan Jorge Linares beat Anthony Crolla in Manchester, the other world champion from the region stands eager to test himself against the best the division has to offer.

'Turbo' Terry Flanagan (31-0, 12 KOs) is in a race to establish himself number one in a division he's rapidly outgrowing.

"I can't wait much longer as the weight is killing me," Flanagan told BoxingScene.com during an exclusive face-to-face interview. "I've been a lightweight for a long time now and I'm growing out of the division," says a fighter who, before reaching title level, routinely hit the scales above lightweight and weighed as much as 145lbs two years ago against Yorkshireman Danny Little.

Flanagan's yearning for unification matches is somewhat impeded by a complicated title picture. At the post-fight press conference in the early hours of Sunday (September 25), promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Team Linares had signed a rematch clause as part of the initial bout agreement. A return is most likely for February or March of 2017, according to Hearn, who added that Linares would be paid "a lot of money". For his part, Crolla confirmed that the rematch was the only fight in his sights.

Further clouding the picture is a note issued by the WBC on Thursday, September 22, confirming that the Mexican-based outfit approved the "unification fight between Linares vs. Anthony Crolla, WBA champion, for the Diamond belt on September 24 in the U.K," and as a result "the winner must fight the lightweight champion [Dejan] Zlaticanin."

Linares may opt to relinquish what is a largely ceremonial WBC belt. The Venezuelan made it clear how important winning the title issued by the sanctioning body based in Panama was, particularly in light of the recent passing of long-time WBA president, Gilberto Mendoza. Linares said the Crolla fight was: "Personal to me, not because of Anthony, but because of the WBA.

“Prior to Mr Mendoza passing away, I told him I would win the WBA title back for him to Venezuela [sic], so this really means a lot to me because of that."

Boxing politics aside, Flanagan's intention is clear. "I'm the best in the division. I want to give the fans what they want," he continued to tell ‘Scene.

"We [Team Flanagan] offered Linares a unification [bout] but they accepted less [money] to fight Crolla."

The list of top-tier fighters 'Turbo' has chased reads like a 'who's who' of the world ratings. "We offered a fight to Zlaticanin and they [initially] accepted, but I believe he's now facing [former WBO super-featherweight world champion] Mikey Garcia," Terry says of the rival WBC champion. Zlaticanin v Garcia was originally slated for October 22 and has reportedly been rescheduled for the latter part of 2016.

A high profile fight on a massive platform was virtually sealed when the WBO ordered Flanagan to defend against mandatory contender, unbeaten Puerto Rican, Felix Verdejo. Respective teams were in negotiation for the bout when the young 23-year-old contender was injured in an early August motorcycle accident. "We were ready to fight Verdejo who was my [WBO] mandatory on the 'Pac' undercard [Manny Pacquiao v Jessie Vargas on November 5 in Las Vegas] but Verdejo came off his motorbike," laments Flanagan.

The Puerto Rican-based WBO have retained Verdejo as mandatory challenger while he recovers from his injuries. Felix uses the ring moniker 'Diamanté', and it's perhaps best not to give the WBC any ideas should Linares discard the ceremonial Diamond belt.

One fighter who achieved Flanagan's unification ambition what seems like an age ago is Juan 'Baby Bull' Diaz, sweeping up three of the lightweight belts with 2007 bouts against championship peers Acelino Freitas and namesake Julio Diaz. With Diaz in the midst of his latest comeback, the camps began negotiations which Flanagan describes in colourfully blunt language.

"With 'Baby Bull', I said yes [to the fight] but it was sh*t money [in the USA], so we said 'let’s bring it over here' and he priced himself out."

The next 'home' for Flanagan was set as chief support on the rescheduled October 29 Tyson Fury v Wladimir Klitschko rematch at the Manchester Arena, a bill which was to have launched Box Nation's pay-per-view channel. A week after the press conference to announce the bill, the apparent Flanagan curse struck again, with the heavyweight champion withdrawing with health issues.

"I was set to fight on the Tyson Fury undercard but obviously that's off now," says Flanagan incredulously, before adding, "Frank [Warren] is now looking to do a bill two weeks later in Manchester on November 12 and I'm lined up to top the bill."

After the Manchester defence Flanagan is clear that he wants Linares, having stated he wanted "the winner of Crolla v Linares."

Boxing Scene scored the bout 116-112 in favour of Linares from ringside and Flanagan is optimistic about the possibility of a bout against the 31-year-old.

"There's more chance of a fight with Linares," he stated, adding that if Crolla had won Flanagan expected him to "say 'I'm number one' and gone to Vegas (to fight)"

The Crolla v Linares bout was also contested for the vacant Ring Magazine world championship. Boxing Scene wonders if it irked Flanagan that two other fighters were considered as the best in the division. "I'm not fussed that Crolla v Linares was for the Ring title. I've wanted the winner. Let's find out who is the best in the world," Flanagan responded.

Any likelihood of a local 'derby' between the two lightweights either before or after the result last weekend is something Flanagan is dubious about given his view that Team Crolla has avoided the fight. Boxing Scene reminds Flanagan that Hearn had suggested Team Crolla would have offered Flanagan a Crolla fight, had they won, but the WBO champion is sceptical.

"Would he really offer the fight or would he make a stupid [unrealistically low] offer, so they can tell the media they've offered us the fight? I'm a world champion," says Flanagan.

If Crolla is widely seen as the nicest man in British boxing, Flanagan isn't far behind in his own way. Where Crolla is the smiling good guy with time for everybody, Flanagan is a strong, silent type projecting a sense of purpose and burning ambition clear even during an interview. Boxing Scene joked about the WBO champion's appearance on the Sky broadcast during the fight. Even to sell a fight, it's hard to imagine the straightforward Flanagan playing the role of 'heel'. "I wouldn't force myself on [Sky] TV [during Crolla v Linares], but when asked, I'm happy to talk.”

What isn't up for debate is that both Mancunians have huge mutual respect and fondness for each other. "Crolla is my mate," states Flanagan. "We were doing yoga together earlier in the week. He bought me a drink!". Once Crolla has licked his wounds, it's possible the Manchester derby which fight fans want to see could happen. The signs are that rival promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn have thawed their Cold War –– and although Flanagan retains significant leverage with his WBO belt, claims his team didn't ever place barriers in the way of making the fight prior to Saturday.

"We made a good offer for Crolla to fight me. We put the ball in their park," said Flanagan.

“They could have put it on Sky (Hearn's TV partner), no problem. I think it's more Joe Gallagher than Eddie Hearn who hasn't wanted the fight.

“It's a promoters’ dream."