By Elliot Foster

Steve Wood revealed that the future plans in Terry Flanagan’s career played a part in the location of his next fight.

The VIP Promotions boss, who manages the career of the world champion alongside promoter Frank Warren, has admitted that there was an ulterior motive behind the decision to fight in Liverpool.

Flanagan, 27, will defend his WBO lightweight title against divisional and geographical rival Derry Mathews at the EchoArena in Liverpool on February 13, 2016, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

But Wood said that, despite reservations, he backed down on the idea of ‘Turbo’ defending his title for the second time in his home city because of what could come next.

“It was me who had the reservations about [Flanagan going] to Liverpool to defend the belt,” Wood told BoxingScene after witnessing his beloved Manchester United turn in a dismal display during a 0-0 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League at Old Trafford.

“Terry wanted the fight wherever it was, but I feel that a champion shouldn’t have to go away from home to defend what is rightfully his.

“But with Frampton-Quigg [at the Manchester Arena] two weeks later [on February 27], we didn’t really have any other option.

“If we were to have dug our heels in and waited until Manchester was available, it would have meant the fight being pulled away from the table and the pay day no longer being there because we’d have had to have waited until April.

“But this way, in Liverpool, both fighters can fight, just like they wanted to and then we can fit in another voluntary before we’re forced into facing our next mandatory, plus the fans get to see a cracking fight.”

Wood has full confidence in his man and is backing him to do a job on the 32-year-old Scouser, with whom a clash had been mooted for some considerable time.

“I don’t see [the result] as an issue,” Wood continued. “Derry’s a good fighter and has been in some great fights down the years, but I know Terry will have too much for him.

“People are saying that we’ve come to Liverpool to fight Derry because we can’t sell any tickets in Manchester, but the reality is that we’ve made the decision,” which he revealed had been made over a week ago, “because we know that chinning him in front of his home crowd will make the win all the sweeter.”

Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz