New WBO lightweight champion “Turbo” Terry Flanagan (28-0, 11ko) hasn’t got an easy 1st defence of the title he won last month in Manchester, with the unbeaten Brit set to face solid American former world title challenger Diego Magdaleno (28-1, 12ko) on the Queensbury Promotions October 10th bill from the M.E.N Arena, Manchester, UK.
Promoter Frank Warren revealed on Friday as part of the “Bunce’s Boxing Hour” show on Boxnation that Flanagan would be fulfilling his mandatory obligations immediately after capturing the vacant WBO 135lb strap against Jose Zepeda, who dislocated his shoulder in the 2nd round of their July fight and was thus unable to continue.
The Top Rank promoted Magdaleno is a bullish southpaw with a decent enough amateur pedigree, whose only defeat ( a SD) came against current WBO 130 lb champion Roman ‘Rocky’ Martinez almost 2 1/2 years ago. The Vegas based American will be looking to spring a hometown upset on the classy champion, who will enjoy a considerable height advantage, as well as a 1″ reach advantage on the night.
After starting slow against another former world title challenger (and Ricky Burns victim) Jose Gonzalez last month, the Joel Diaz trained Magdaleno went on to stop his man in seven following a punch Gonzalez claimed was low. The shot left him visibly on queer street and unable to beat the count and following the customary 5 mins rest, the Puerto Rican decided not to continue.
The packed Manchester card will also now feature the rescheduled Andy Lee v Billy Joe Saunders middleweight world title fight that has been moved from Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland, and will also feature a THIRD world title contest to be announced at a press conference in Manchester on Monday
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Early speculation that this would be Liverpool’s WBA (interim) lightweight champion Derry Mathews appears to have been scotched by “Dirty Derry” himself, who wrote on his twitter account;
“Great news off my manager @DJK256, I won’t be on Manchester show, I’ll be out end of October in a massive fight. More details coming soon.”
Another possibility is Liverpool’s unbeaten light-middleweight contender Liam Smith who is ranked #4 with the WBO. Their 154lb title is currently vacant after they recently stripped Demetrius Andrade and it’s possible he could face either French #3 Michel Soro or Ukraine’s #2 Oleksandr Spyrko. Canelo Alvarez is #1 with the organistaion.
Twitter @Undilutedpoison
