Terry Flanagan-Derry Mathews/NoRigo/Tete/Butler - Sat/BN. Fact.

[Fenster]

Flanagan looked terrific last time out wiping the floor with Magdaleno in two rounds. He's come along under the radar but that win got him recognised as one the best lightweights in the world.

Being a 26-year-old, unbeaten WBO champion he quite rightly is the strong favourite (1/7) over the 32-year-old 50-fight "veteran" Matthews (9/2).

Derry is dangerous, with plenty of good wins over quality British fighters, however, he's been decapitated several times. For what it's worth (virtually nothing) Flanagan beat him in prizefighter. Flanagan doesn't look a massive whacker but his last six fights have finished inside the distance. Considering the career paths i'll be surprised if Flanagan doesn't chin Dirty - generally 4/6.


ZOLANI TETE V JOSE SANTOS GONZALEZ

Tete is a world-class, talented puncher. Since he ironed out Paul Butler, if you listen to the BoxNation mob he's the greatest fighter since Ray Robinson - they love him. However, he's lost three times which includes a chinnage loss.

I've never seen Jose Santos Gonzalez fight (there's no footage) or even know what he looks like (there's no pics). But being a 25-year-old Mexican (23-3) is enough to have a shrapnel bet at 16/1 (as long as he doesn't look a state at the weigh-in).

[erics44]

Derry's chin is better than it looks on paper

he had a terrible 4 or 5 fight spell but apart from that (and prisefighter) its only really gavin rees has finished him inside the distance

that Italian fella did but it was a nose injury

[Fenster]

Choi chopped his head off too. He made a bloody good comeback from those losses

[erics44]

yeah that's when the slump started

along with the martin thingy KO

[Master]

Flanagan seems very punchy when being interviewed.

[Dark Lord Al]

Mathews looks like he needs a wash he looks dirty

[Master]

Terry Flanagan expects to stop Derry Mathews in WBO title fight



WBO world champion Terry Flanagan says his lightweight rival Derry Mathews has "no chance" of winning when they meet in Liverpool on Saturday.

Flanagan, 26, is unbeaten in 29 fights while Mathews has his first world title shot in a 49-fight career.

"I think Derry's kidding himself if he thinks he's going to beat me," Flanagan told BBC Sport.

"I'm going to win by stoppage. I'll stop him but I think Derry will go out on his shield."

The two Englishmen have met before in the three-round Prizefighter championship at the Liverpool Olympia in 2012.

"I've beat him in his own backyard before in Prizefighter and I'm going to do it again," said Flanagan.

"The difference between us now is I'm a heavier, natural lightweight. I'm bigger, better, stronger and feeling very confident."

Flanagan won the vacant WBO crown by technical knockout in July 2015 when American opponent Jose Zepeda was injured, and defended it by beating another American, Diego Magdaleno, in October.

While Flanagan is the favourite, 32-year-old former British champion Mathews has more experience, having boxed 142 rounds more than Flanagan. He has not been stopped for three years.

"He does seem confident that he's going to stop me but he couldn't name a round he was going to stop me in so he can't be that confident," said Mathews.

"I'm the most over-avoided lightweight in the country. They all know how much of a puncher I am but they also realise that I've got a good boxing brain. I've won a junior Olympic gold medal and six national titles by out-boxing people. This is my time and I believe I'm going to be a world champion."

Mathews also questioned the standard of opponents Flanagan has faced.

"Who has Flanagan really boxed? He's boxed on undercards where 90% of the purse went to him so he had to win all those fights. I haven't done it that way. I've had to box away from home against tough opponents and that experience will show on Saturday."

The winner could potentially face another Briton, WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla, if he comes through his mandatory defence against Venezuela's Ismael Barroso in May.

Terry Flanagan expects to stop Derry Mathews in WBO title fight - BBC Sport

[Dia bando]

I was going but Rigo is not fighting so I can't be bothered I am disappointed, as I regard Rigo as a master boxer shit.

[Fenster]

The BoxNation love for Tete is ridiculous. Yeah, he's a world-class fighter yet they moan about Sky overhyping their bods

[IamInuit]

Good rd. I think Terry nabbed that one. I like the way he's keeping his lead foot on the outside.

[IamInuit]

9.9 for the takedown.

[Beanz]

Ha! Never thought Flannagan would be the one getting warned against Derry Matthews. Decent scrap already

[armin]

5 2 or 4 3 possibly flanagan round 7 probably best rd for flanagan