There’ll be no arguing over dressing rooms!
IT’S Liverpool versus Manchester with a world title on the line, with no dressing-room shenanigans in sight.
WBO Lightweight Champion Terry Flanagan defends his unbeaten record against Derry Matthews as the rivalry of these two North-West cities enters the ring.
Matthews will be on home soil at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday night as he gears up for the biggest fight of his life.
The challenger promises none of the pre-fight arguments that caught the headlines in the build-up to the Carl Frampton-Scott Quigg bout last weekend.
“I’d get changed in the car park for a world title fight,” quips Matthews.
“We won’t be crying over what dressing-room we’ll have. We would both get changed anywhere in the arena for this one.
“Here I am in a world title fight in my 50th fight in my home city. I have to pinch myself but this is what makes me work so hard.
“I won’t get another chance, so I have to grab it with both hands.
“Whatever Terry Flanagan brings, I’ll match. If I do what I’ve done in training, I can’t see it going wrong.”
Manchester City-supporter Flanagan won his world title on home soil last year but he’s not worried about fighting a local boy in Liverpool.
“There will be a good atmosphere on the night,” he says. “But it means nothing once you’re in the ring. I’ll be the coolest man in the arena.
“I’ve always wanted to beat a fighter in his own backyard and now I have that chance.”
Promoter Frank-Warren is certain this contest won’t disappoint in the same way as Frampton and Quigg.
“This won’t be a snooze-fest”, he declares. “It’s the first world title fight between Liverpool and Manchester for 88 years, so it should be a good night.
“We want the winner to fight Manchester’s WBA champ Anthony Crolla. It’s a natural fight, so let’s find out who’s the best in Britain at this weight.”
Flanagan v Mathews is exclusively live on Box Nation Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546, Talk Talk 415 and Freeview 255 or watch online at watch.boxnation.com Subscribe at www.boxnation.com