An injury to WBO Lightweight titlist Terry Flanagan has meant that his title defense against Derry Mathews has been rescheduled from Saturday February 13th to Saturday March 12th, still at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
The Mathews versus Flanagan showdown remains the headline attraction on the title packed show and the other title fights will stay the same, which are: red-hot 160 pound talent Tommy Langford’s defends his WBO Intercontinental Middleweight title defence against Lewis Taylor and English Cruiserweight Champion Matty Askin’s seeks justice in his rematch against Lawrence Bennett.
The undercard will feature some of the best domestic talent: Former IBF World Bantamweight Champion Paul Butler, Indian superstar Vijender Singh, and Liverpool top talents Tom Stalker, Steven Lewis, Ryan Farrag, Kevin Satchell, hot Manchester prospects Macaulay McGowan and Zelpha Barrett, and Leicester ace Lyon Woodstock.
Undefeated British and Commonwealth Super-Welterweight Champion Liam Williams has been ruled out of his title defence against Nav Mansouri after he was struck down with a viral infection.
Manchester’s Flanagan has suffered severe tendonitis in his left foot that has left him unable to train for the big shoot-out against his Liverpool rival. The 28-year-old will immediately start specialist physiotherapy treatment to ensure that he will be fit and ready for the new date.
“Turbo” is devastated at having to postpone his second title defence as his training until the injury was going all according to plan. However, the all-action fighter, who’s undefeated in 29 fights, says he’s focused on recovering and defending his title against arch-rival.
Flanagan said, “This is a real blow to me as I’ve never pulled out of a fight because of an injury before and I’ve always fought through them, it’s not in my fighter’s make up to pull out of fights and my fans know that about me. I always give them one hundred percent when I’m in the ring, no matter what. I’ve had to take the advice of the medical specialists on this occasion and postpone my defence against Mathews to begin physiotherapy. I’ll be taking my treatment as seriously as I’m training for a fight and I will return back to my best, ready to defend my title successfully against Mathews on Saturday 12th March at the Echo Arena.”
Promoter Frank Warren said, “We’re all disappointed that Terry has suffered an injury and is unable to make the original date, but we’ve worked hard to ensure the mouthwatering world title showdown between Flanagan and Mathews remains the top of the bill for the new date of Saturday 12th March. I maintain that it’s going to be real war between these two warriors who are going to put everything on the line on the night. The rest of the card will remain the same with Langford and Askin in title defences and an undercard stacked with talent.”
