By Anson Wainwright
On Saturday evening Terry Flanagan delighted his home town crowd in Manchester, winning the vacant British lightweight crown, forcing Martin Gethin to retire at the end of the sixth round with ear damage.
The 25 year old southpaw moved to 25-0, with nine knockouts after a career best win.
“I’m happy I got this title,” Flanagan told BoxingScene.com “and am happy I stopped him in six rounds.”
'Turbo' Terry looks to be coming into his own in the crowded British lightweight scene.
“I’m ready for anyone in the country,” he said jubilantly. “I think I’m good enough to beat anyone of them.”
A short while after Flanagan won the British title, BoxingScene.com caught up with him.
BoxingScene - Congratulations on the title victory, can you talk us through the fight?
Flanagan - I went in from round one looking to box and when Martin backed me up to the ropes I felt comfy there so I thought I’d stay there. I was landing the bigger shots, hurting him there and thought he can’t keep taking these all night. So I stuck with it and stayed there, he was only tip-tapping. I was landing the big clean shots I thought I’d wear him down for the latter rounds and I’ll get the stoppage. I didn’t think it would come in the sixth round but I thought I’d get the stoppage if kept landing clean like that.
BoxingScene - How happy were you with your performance?
Flanagan - You’d have to ask my coach, I have to watch it back. After every round I say did I win that round, have I won it clearly? So I wouldn’t know, but I’m happy I got this title and am happy I stopped him in six rounds so I couldn’t have been that bad!
BoxingScene - You came out to Blue Moon, something Ricky Hatton was famous for in this very arena, have you now adopted that song?
Flanagan - I said I always wanted to come out to this song and Steve my coach said yeah come out to it and I thought I can’t really it’s Ricky Hatton’s song. I can’t start jumping on that bandwagon and he went no we need someone to step in now to take his place and get all the Blues (Manchester City fans) following you so hopefully I can keep that song and no hard feelings from Ricky or anyone.
BoxingScene - What is your immediate plan?
Flanagan - I’m gonna see my friends and have a drink with them tonight and go on holiday Friday with my friends for a week then back in the gym, either defending this (British title) or moving on if there’s a chance of that, but I’ve got this title so I’ll see what happens.
BoxingScene - What would you like to do next in terms of boxing?
Flanagan - I’d like to win it (The British title) outright. Whatever Frank (Warren), Steve Woods my manager and coach Steve Maylett say, he chooses my fights. I never say who I’ll fight, he says who I fight and that’s who I fight.
BoxingScene.com - Do you have a message for the British Lightweights?
Flanagan - I’m ready for anyone in the country. I think I’m good enough to beat anyone of them.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/AnsonWainwright