Terry Flanagan and Liam Smith have fired up the Anglo-American rivalry ahead of their world title showdowns with respective challengers Diego Magdaleno and John Thompson at the Manchester Arena on Saturday 10th October.
Manchester ace Flanagan makes the first defence of his WBO World Lightweight title against California hitter Magdaleno, while Liverpool star Smith faces New Jersey banger Thompson with the Vacant WBO World Super-Welterweight title on the line.
Flanagan says he has a point to prove after he won the world title from Jose Zepeda in July when the American dislocated his shoulder in the second round and will be looking to do a demolition job on mandatory contender Magdaleno to show the he is the top 135 pounder in the world.
“It’s always a big occasion when the Americans fighters come over to Britain and especially when there’s a world title on the line,” Said Flanagan.
“There’s that extra heat because the Americans are big, loud and brash and think that they’re the best so it makes you train that extra bit harder to give them a good hiding in the ring,”
“I know that Britain has a special relationship with the Americans with very close political, cultural, trade and military links. We stand side by side in any armed conflicts, but on the night that me and Magdaleno fight, hostilities will be ignited and the only trading that will be done is between me him,”
“Once I deal with Magdaleno, there will be no questions about my credentials of being world champion,”
“I can’t wait now, I’m only a few days aways from the fight, my training has been perfect and now I’ve got to put everything into action on the night.”
Smith is drawing inspiration from Joe Calzaghe’s victory over then unbeaten American Jeff Lacy at the Manchester Arena nearly a decade earlier when he produced what was described as the finest ever performance by a British boxer in a British ring.
“This is my big chance to not only win the world title but it is the chance to show the boxing world that I’ve arrived,” Said Smith.
“Thompson is a good fighter and I know that he’s coming over here with one thing on his mind and that’s to give me a beating and take the world title back to America,”
“Like Terry said, when the American fighters come over it’s a big occasion and it means something. I remember when Joe Calzaghe fought Jeff Lacy and there was all this hype about Lacy being some sort of unbeatable force and Joe absolutely hammered him. That’s the kind of performance I’m aspiring to. But however I win doesn’t matter, I’m going to win,”
“It makes my hair stand on end thinking about Saturday when I think about making my entrance and getting in the ring. My adrenalin is flowing now, I can’t wait.”
Flangan v Magdaleno and Smith v Thompson headline a stunning night of championship boxing with a further SIX big title fights: Jack Catterall defends his WBO Intercontinental Super-Lightweight title against Jarkko Putkonen; Luke Blackledge defends his Commonwealth Super-Middleweight title against Lee Markham; Tom Stalker and Craig Evans clash for the Vacant WBO European Lightweight Championship; Jimmy Kelly and Martin Fidel Rios collide for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-Welterweight Championship; Adrian Gonzalez and John Kays face off for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-Featherweight Championship; Ryan Burnett and Gagi Edisherashvili square off for the Vacant WBO European Bantamweight Championship. On the undercard 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist and Indian boxing sensation Vijender Singh makes his professional debut, plus Jack Flatly makes his pro-debut and finally Dale Coyne completes the card.
Remaining tickets for World War III, headlined with the WBO World Lightweight Championship Terry Flanagan v Diego Magdaleno and the Vacant WBO World Super-Welterweight Championship Liam Smith v John Thompson, are available from www.frankwarren.com, Manchester Arena on 0844 847 8000 and Eventim on www.eventim.co.uk and 0844 249 1000.
The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com or watch online at Livesport.tv or via iPhone, iPad or Android.
*Tickets subject to booking fee.
