Flanagan faces the music in New Orleans but can call tune

TERRY FLANAGAN fights abroad for the first time in New Orleans, the hometown of his opponent, unbeaten Regis Prograis.

You might say he has it all to do against the top seed in the super-lightweight World Boxing Super Series. He has, but Flanagan is a tough Manchester lad reaching for the stars.

He has in a sense always been the underdog, unfashionable in a way so many prospects are that do not boast glittering Olympic resumes. He achieved his world title dreams three years ago beating Jose Zepeda for the WBO lightweight belt.

Five stout defences followed before dropping a split decision in June to Maurice Hooker after stepping up to superlightweight to fight for the vacant WBO title. Flanagan (right) had been injured, hadn’t fought for 14 months and had gone up a weight. He comes here with something to prove, and that is when he is at his best. Prograis is a heavy-handed, walk-you-down, take-you-out type. He’s crude but an incredibly dynamic fighter with 19 KOS in 22 fights. Having stopped Julius Indongo and Juan Velasco in 2018 he will be confident. But Flanagan is very smart, has a good chin and brings speed with him, which allows him to see shots fractionally quicker than a super-lightweight would.

Flanagan has to stay away from the ropes to give himself room to defuse the big shots.

As soon as Prograis sets to punch he needs to stick a jab in his mouth and step sideways or back. In the first six rounds he has to be as evasive as possible.

You have to favour Prograis, probably by late stoppage, but Flanagan has a chance if he can take him into the later rounds.

Also on the bill is a second WBSS quarter-final between Ivan Baranchyk and Anthony Yigit, who are also contesting the IBF super-lightweight crown.

This has special significance for us since Josh Taylor will face the winner if he wins his quarterfinal next week against unbeaten Ryan Martin.