News broke today that the British lightweight, Terry Flanagan, has been given a world title fight against the American Jose Zepeda.
The fight for the WBO World Lightweight crown will take place on Saturday 11th July at the Velodrome, in Manchester.
It will be a huge task for Flanagan as Zepeda is something of a knockout specialist. Ranked #5 by the WBO, Zepeda in his 23 fights has stopped 20 of his opponents with 16 of those stoppages coming before the end of the third round.
In contrast, southpaw Flanagan has an unbeaten record that has seen him go 27 fights unbeaten but with only 10 by stoppage. Flanagan earned the right to fight for the title after defeating Stephen Ormond in his last fight.
Talking about the chance to become a world champion Flanagan has remarked,
‘It’s a dream to fight for the world title on my own doorstep and it will be an electric atmosphere on the night at the Velodrome.
‘I’d have fought Zepeda anywhere because to get a world title fight has been my dream since first putting on the gloves, but my promoter Frank Warren has really pulled out all the stops to get me my chance in my backyard as he believes in me and I’ll repay that faith by becoming world champion.?
July 11th may well seem some way off but it is a night I?ve put a star against in my diary.
Flanagan Gets World Title Shot
