Boxer earns shot against Lebdev for cruiserweight world title Flanagan hits big time

RASMUSSEN boxer Mark Flanagan is on the verge of realising his wildest dreams after locking in a WBA world cruiserweight title fight against Russia’s Denis Lebdev.

Flanagan, 26, will fight Lebdev in Moscow on July 10, fulfilling a journey that first t started as a raw 13- year- old junior at the Upper Ross Hawks boxing gym.

Talking to the Townsville Bulletin yesterday just hours after inking his landmark fight, Flanagan ( pictured) said his mind was racing.

“It’s the biggest fight poss- ible ... it’s no bulls---, this is a legitimate world title fight,” he said.

“I just signed the contract about three hours ago and it’s just sinking in.

“The emotions are pretty high; things started coming together about two weeks ago but I didn’t want to jump the gun, but it’s awesome that it’s finally out there.

“A lot of things have come into my head and it’s not just him ( Lebdev) but going to Russia and being in a hostile environment.”

Flanagan ( 22 wins, 15 KOs, and four losses) has won his past 11 fights and last year beat Orlando Antonio Farias to win the WBA Oceania cruiserweight title.

That earned Flanagan a spot inside the world top 10 and his shot against Lebdev, who reportedly sounded out Flanagan as an ideal warm- up ahead of a possible super bout against British superstar Tony Bellew.

Flanagan will start as underdog against Lebdev, with the 90kg southpaw boasting a record of 29 wins from 32 fights. But Flanagan has been an underdog all his life.

Resisting the temptation to fall into the wrong crowd, Flanagan took up boxing and quickly excelled in the amateur ranks before making his professional debut in 2009.

In that time he has won the Australian cruiserweight title twice, won the IBO Oceania cruiserweight belt and also five Queensland state light heavyweight title bouts.

But despite all that Flanagan believed he would never get a world title shot.

“I honestly thought I’d win an Australian title, get into the top five to 10 of the world rankings and hover around there and that would be my story,” Flanagan said.

“I mean me? Fighting for a world title? I can’t believe it, but I think I really deserve my shot.

“It’s out there now so hopefully I can get as many people behind me.”

Flanagan credits his family and close friends for getting him through the tough times, which included a 12- month hiatus from boxing after winning the Australian cruiserweight title in 2014.

But there is one man he credits above all.

“It was my Hawks trainer Dennis Clancy, 100 per cent,” Flanagan said.

“I was a poor little broke kid from a Housing Commission area in Upper Ross, and he took me under his wing.”

Clancy said Flanagan was on the verge of achieving something that Townsville had never seen before. “He’s a boy from Rasmussen who has made it to the top of the mountain,” he said.

“Now he just has to lift that belt up to be on top of the mountain.

“I think he can pull it off if he goes into it with the right frame of mind.

“He ( Lebdev) probably thinks he can get a good warmup fight against Mark, but I think he’s chosen the wrong boy.”

Flanagan, who now trains in Brisbane, will return to Townsville on Friday for a local fight night being held by Clancy at Brothers Leagues Club.

“It’s a very inspirational for Townsville and in some way we should all feel a part of it,” Clancy said.