Warren Tells Wilder: Call Me, I'll Make Fury Fight Quick!

By Frank Warren

While traditionally it is boxing’s heavyweights who hog the headlines here in Britain the lightweights are coming on strong. The 9st 6lb division has rarely been healthier or busier with a fistful of likely lads who are all classy contenders for world titles.

First up tonight in a final eliminator for the WBO belt is Manchester’s unbeaten Terry Flanagan, 25. They call him ‘Turbo’ because of his supercharged, full-throttle style. The English champion and Prizefighter winner challenges Dubliner Stephen Ormond for the WBO European lightweight title at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, topping a BoxNation-televised bill Believe me, this could be the fight of the year.

America’s reigning world champion Terence Crawford is expected to vacate the belt and move up to junior welterweight so Ormond or Flanagan will face Diaz for the vacant title.

Popular Scouser Derry Mathews – who was outpointed by Ormond in a thriller just over a year ago - will eventually get his WBA title chance against the slick Cuban holder Richar Abril. The fight was set for March 6th, but is now postponed after Abril withdrew with a viral infection.

Another Mancunian, Anthony Crolla, awaiting full recovery from the injuries sustained when tackling thieves robbing a neighbour’s house, has stepped aside but remains in line to meet the winner.

Completing this intriguing ring of roses is Londoner Kevin Mitchell, who  earned a third shot at a world title, the WBC version, with his impressive stoppage of Daniel Estrada last month. Hopefully more mature at 30 he won’t be found as wanting this time when he steps up in class as he was in his previous feeble title bids against against Michael Katsidis and Ricky Burns.

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New WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder has again publicly declared that he fancies Tyson Fury as his next opponent.  Instead of calling him out Wilder should get his people to call me and we’d make this fight in a heartbeat once Fury has dealt with Christian Hammer at the O2 on 28 February. As that great American referee Mills Lane (he’s the man who ejected the other Tyson after he spat out Holyfield’s shell-like by the way), used to say:”Let’s get it on!”

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