A war of words erupted as WBO Lightweight titlist Terry Flanagan and rival Derry Mathews went head-to-head at a heated press conference today ahead of their showdown at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on February 13th,. Mathews, 32, previously lost to Flanagan in a PrizeFighter tournament back in 2012 and believes his bitter rival will be taking him for granted when they clash at the Echo Arena.
He said: “He reckons he’s a big puncher and he thinks he’s something that he’s not. He’s had some lucky wins in his career and on February 13th I’m going to show everybody I’m the better boxer and the better man,”
“I’m treating this as a rematch after losing to him in the Prize Fighter tournament and l don’t lose rematches, especially against Mancs. Beating Manchester lads for big titles is nothing new to me, I remember seeing off Steve Foster and Anthony Crolla. Next month I’m going to make it a hat-trick of Mancs and this time it’ll be for a full genuine world title.”
Flanagan, who is undefeated in 26 fights, is coming off the back of a devastating performance in October when he smashed his mandatory challenger Diego Magdelano inside two rounds at the Manchester Arena. The 26 year-old is confident that his next fight will be ending the same way and declared that he’ll stop Mathews early on.
“I think Derry is kidding himself if he thinks he’s beating me. I’ve already beat him and I’m going to beat him again. I’m fitter, faster and stronger than I was last time we met so this won’t be ending well from him. I feel tougher than ever and come the 13th I’m going to be victorious by stoppage,”
“I’m the fittest man on the planet. I train harder than anyone else, I spar harder than anyone else and come fight night I’m going to put Derry in his place. I’m younger, fresher and hungrier and I’m going to show you what I’m capable of on the 13th. I sparred him when I was a boy and gave him a right pasting and now I’m a man I’ll do even more damage.”
He continued: “I know that I’m a whole level above Derry. I know how this fight is going to go and it’ll end in tears for the jumped up Scouser. Nobody has ever beaten me and it’s going to stay that way.”
‘Dirty’ Derry, renowned for his all-out style of fighting, laughed off Flanagan’s claims and declared he’ll be taking him deep into the trenches.
He said: “He keeps on telling everyone he’s going to stop me but he can’t even name the round in which he’s going to do it. He can’t be that confident if he hasn’t decided on the round, it all sounds like hot air to me,”
“This time it’s going to be different. After three rounds it’s a totally different fight and over twelve there’s only going to be one winner and that’s me. The longer this fight goes on the worse it’ll get for him.”
