Terry to light up Arena

Mark Pearson on tonight’s big fight

FOR the second time in 14 days we have world championship boxing at the Manchester Arena, with unbeaten hometown favourite Terry Flanagan taking on capable Russian Petr Petrov.

This is the Manchester man’s fifth defence of his WBO lightweight title and he has a faultless 32-fight record with 13 finishing early. He has a significant height and reach advantage over his opponent who must be respected with 38 wins in a 44-fight career.

But this is Petrov’s biggest fight yet and Flanagan should retain his belt.

He is 1-6 to triumph but can be backed at 6-5 to win on the scorecards and that would be the call for me.

The undercard clash between two Brits called Liam took a twist yesterday when Scouser Liam Smith failed to make the superwelterweight limit for his fight with Wales’ Liam Williams.

Smith, on the comeback trail after a stoppage loss to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez last September, now cannot win the interim WBO championship.

Smith, who had a lowkey tune-up win in Barcelona last month, came in almost 2lb over the limit and chose not to be reweighed.

Unbeaten Williams can still win the belt.

They both remain at 10-11 to win but with this being Williams’ first taste at world level, I’d just side with Smith.