He’s perhaps not the most “media friendly” fighter, but Manchester’s undefeated lightweight Terry Flanagan, who fights American puncher Jose Zepeda on Saturday night in Manchester, prefers to do his talking in the ring, and ahead of his challenge for the vacant WBO lightweight strap, took some time out to speak to iFLtv about the contest, insisting whatever the Californian fighter brings to the table, it simply won’t be good enough.

“I was surprised really, I thought he’d be a lot bigger” said ‘Turbo’ after coming face to face with his opponent for the first time at today’s final presser.

“He’s confident, he’s gonna be confident, isn’t he? He’s a confident fighter. He’s what 23-0 with 20 knockouts so I’m sure he thinks he’s gonna come in and be knocking me out but that ain’t gonna be the case.”

“I’ve always said the better the opponent, the better I’ll be on the night and I believe we’ll see that on Saturday.”

Flanagan’s trainer Steve Maylett added;

“Timing is important and this is the right time for him. He’s had his education, he’s had his fights, plenty of them – and he’s in the right place.”

And Maylett, who has studied Zepeda, is confident they have the right game plan. He said of the man in the opposite corner;

“It looks like his power’s in his left hand and once he’s got people going he will switch southpaw to take them out – but it don’t matter which way he fights to be honest.”

“It’s gonna take a special fighter to beat Terry Flanagan and I don’t think Jose Zepeda’s special.”

Flanagan v Zepeda is live on Boxnation in the UK.

Twitter @Undilutedpoison