Full Flanagan vs. Mathews Results from Liverpool Card at Echo Arena
Terry Flanagan beat challenger Derry Mathews to retain his WBO Lightweight crown with a unanimous decision at the Liverpool Echo Arena. All-action Turbo proved why he is rated as one of the world’s best lightweights despite the efforts of the brave Mathews. The packed arena was treated to a strong fight from both men who gave it their all.
Flanagan silenced the hostile Liverpool crowd early on with his blistering hand speed and silky movement. Undefeated Flanagan began to take control of the fight in the early rounds, landing powerful combinations on the Scouse challenger. The southpaw found his range in the second round and appeared to have too much for Mathews to handle.
32 year-old Mathews lived up to his ‘Dirty’ nickname, punching in the clinch and doing his all to stop the relentless onslaught form the Mancunian lightweight king. Challenger Mathews began to fight back in the fourth round, landing two big hooks on the cornered Flanagan. Both men took a warning form the referee for pushing as the massive all-British showdown began to spice up.
Mathews went looking for his renowned big punch in the fifth round and connected well with a solid right hand. The Scouse half of the crowd could sense their man was getting back into the bout as Mathews took the fifth round. Chants of ‘Derry Derry!’ filled the electric arena.
Derry remained a threat throughout the sixth round and continued to cause the champion problems; finding his way through Flanagan’s defence repeatedly.
Despite Flanagan edging the rounds Mathews remained a constant threat. The referee finally docked Flanagan a point for the use of his elbow in the eighth round to the delight of Mathew’s supporters.
An explosive start to the ninth round saw both men trade at will, with the eagerly-anticipated world title clash was turning into a real barn burner.
Southpaw Flanagan started to retake control of the bout in the tenth round, dominating the middle of the ring and forcing Mathews onto the ropes.
Sensing he was down on the score cards, Mathews came out of his corner in the eleventh round looking to end the contest with a show-stopping punch. It was too little too late for the man looking to land a full world title in his 50th professional fight as the judges handed Flanagan a unanimous decision.
Liam Walsh Wants the Winner
Cromer British Super-Featherweight Champion Liam Walsh has called out the winner of tonight’s massive all-British world title showdown between Manchester’s Terry Flanagan and Liverpool’s Derry Mathews, shown exclusively live on BoxNation.
Undefeated Walsh has been involved in nine championship contests in his 19 professional fights with his first coming in his 10th bout with just three weeks’ notice. The Rochdale-born puncher can cut it with the best at both Super-Featherweight and Lightweight, having won British, Commonwealth and International Super-Featherweight titles and the WBO European Lightweight title.
The slick southpaw is determined to get a shot at the winner of tonight’s North West blockbuster and says he has what it takes to become a WBO World Lightweight champion. Walsh was forced to reluctantly pull out of his world title clash with Ricky Burns back in December 2012 after suffering significant injuries in a car accident during the build-up to the fight. Four years down the line the determined Walsh is now licking his lips at the prospect of another all-British blockbuster fight.
“This is 100% the fight that I’m after. When I fought as chief support in Manchester for Terry’s fight against Jose Zepeda I was under the impression that as long as we both won it was a given that we’d get it on. He was then forced to fight Diego Magdaleno as a mandatory and a fight between us wasn’t possible. I understand the politics of the sport but it was disappointing,” said Walsh.
He added: “For me Flanagan is one of the best, if not the, best Lightweights in the world. It’s an exciting fight and I’d get good props for taking him on. People would class me as an underdog in the fight which I’ve never been and I’d like to be.”
The history-making twin has always wanted to compete as a massive underdog in a hype-fuelled dust-up for world honours. Hot-shot Walsh, 29, is backing Flanagan to successfully defend his title in tonight’s barn burner and says he’d have no problems taking ‘Turbo’ on in his hometown of Manchester.
He said: “It would probably be an away test up in Manchester which I’m happy with. I’m from Rochdale myself and it wouldn’t feel too far away from home. No doubt I’d have tonnes come from Rochdale to support me and I’d obviously have the Farmy Army turn out in their hundreds like they always do so it wouldn’t really feel like an away test,”
“It’s a fight I want because Flanagan is one of the best and I want to fight the best. It doesn’t look like there’s much floating around in the Super-Featherweight division at the moment. The opportunities look limited at the minute and I can hold my own at Super-Featherweight or Lightweight so it’s a fight that makes sense.”
Paul Butler Gets a KO
‘Baby faced Assassin’ Paul Butler stopped Mexico’s Sebastian Sanchez inside nine rounds to claim the vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-Flyweight Championship. A crunching left hook to the body of Sanchez was enough to earn Butler the 21st win of his career.
The Ellesmere Port ace used his lightening quick speed to take control of the bout early on. Butler put on an impressive performance in front of his home crowd, which included rival super-flyweight Jamie Conlan.
27 year-old Butler dominated the bout throughout, landing a series of punishing hooks and jabs on the nippy Mexican. Sanchez proved his toughness by taking everything Butler threw at him despite being caught with some powerful left-hand jabs.
The impressive Butler sent out a powerful message to the watching Conlan by systematically dismantling the gutsy Mexican with a near punch perfect performance in front of the rowdy Echo Arena crowd.
Tommy Langford Gets UD Win
Birmingham middleweight star Tommy Langford overcame a tough challenge Dronfield’s determined Lewis Taylor to defend his WBO Intercontinental title and also claim the Vacant Middleweight Championship at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
It was a gallant effort from both fighters who put on a real barn burner of a domestic scrap. All-action Langford came away with a unanimous decision in what was his 16th professional career win.
Both fighters defences looked questionable in an even and lively opener. Langford slightly edged the first round by using his left jab well and making the middle of the ring his own.
26 year-old Langford stepped up the pace in the third round and began to find his way past Taylor’s defence. The ‘Baggies’ mad bruiser began to show his class by landing some powerful shots on the gutsy challenger.
Taylor refused to take a step back despite taking several big shots to the body. The Birmingham man sensed a stoppage in the ninth round and went after Taylor with a series of punishing combinations. By now, the contest had developed into a real scrap with both men landing shots at will.
Taylor made an impressive reply by steaming into Langford at the beginning of round 11 but Langford took his shots well and came back with some lethal hooks of his own. Devon-born Langford retained his Intercontinental title and took home the Commonwealth belt with a well-earned unanimous decision from the judges.
Tete Scores Another Stoppage
South African super-puncher Zolani Tete made an explosive return to the Liverpool Echo Arena by claiming a seventh round stoppage against Mexico’s Jose Santos Gonzalez.
‘Last Born’ looked eager to impress the Scouse crowd, dictating the pace of the fight from the first round. The polite and softly spoken bantamweight looked a completely different person in the ring, toying with the Mexican at will.
The former IBF World Super-Flyweight Champion looked in spiteful form as he landed several big hooks on his opponent. Tete, from Mdanste in the Easter Cape, lived up to his explosive reputation by dropping Sanchez in the second round. Gonzales looked hurt but was able to beat the referees count and return to the action.
Touted as one of the best boxers to come out of Africa in recent years, Tete justified the hype by delivering a near punch perfect performance for his Liverpool fans. The clinical southpaw landed several precise shots on Gonzalez, who struggled to deal with the African’s speed and movement. The fight was finally won in the seventh after Gonzales was dropped for a second time. The tough Mexcican beat the referees count but was caught by another big shot which ultimately ended the bout. Gutsy Mexican Gonzalez was in no state to continue and the referee ended the contest.
Singh Stays Unbeaten
Indian boxing sensation Vijinder Singh blew away Hungary’s Alexander Horvath at the Liverpool Echo Arena to claim his fourth successive professional victory. Singh continued his red-hot winning streak by stopping Horvath in the third round with a big body shot.
Undefeated Singh, delivered an explosive performance for the BoxNation viewers. The man from Kaluwas was well on top from the very first bell, landing some big right hand shots on the retreating Horvath. The Indian puncher started the second round with a flurry of big hooks that connected well on Horvath who struggled to handle Singh’s power and movement.
The contest was won in the third round with a powerful body shot that connected on Horvath’s shoulder. The Bulgarian went down and failed to beat the referee’s count. It looks to be a massive year knockout merchant Singh who was delighted to get yet another stoppage win.
“I’m thrilled to get my fourth professional victory and excited for what the future holds for me. I’m happy to get another knockout win and really want to push on from here with some big performances is 2016,” said Singh.
He added: “The support I have received from everyone here in Liverpool and back home in India has been absolutely phenomenal. My phone hasn’t stopped buzzing with messages of support from all around the world and I’m so grateful to all of my new fans. You can expect some big performances from me this year as I look to move up the ranks.”
Full results from the Echo Arena, Liverpool:
Fight # 1
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Lightweight Contest
ZELFA BARRETT WPTS6 (60-54) DAMIAN LAWNICZAK
Fight # 2
6 X 3 Minute Rounds International Middleweight Contest
VIJENDER SINGH WKO3 (1:02) ALEXANDER HORVATH
Fight # 3
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
LYON WOODSTOCK WPTS4 (40-36) IBRAR RIYA
Fight # 4
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Bantamweight Contest
RYAN FARRAG WKO2 (2:12) STEFAN SLAVCHEV
Fight # 5
THE VACANT IBF INTERNATIONAL BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds
ZOLANI TETE WTKO7 (2:37) JOSE SANTOS GONZALEZ
Fight # 6
THE WBO INTERCONTINENTAL AND VACANT COMMONWEALTH MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds
TOMMY LANGFORD WPTS12 (118-110, 118-111, 118-111) LEWIS TAYLOR
Fight # 7
THE VACANT WBO INTERNATIONAL SUPER-FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds
PAUL BUTLER WTKO9 (1:27) SEBASTIAN SANCHEZ
Fight # 8
THE WBO WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds
TERRY FLANAGAN WPTS12 (117-110 115-112 117-110) DERRY MATHEWS
Fight # 9
8 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Bantamweight Contest
JAZZA DICKENS WRTD6 REYNALDO CAJINA
Fight # 10
THE ENGLISH CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
10 X 3 Minute Rounds
MATTY ASKIN WTKO2 (1:18) SIMON BARCLAY
Fight # 11
8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Flyweight Contest
KEVIN SATCHELL WPTS8 (80-72) ADRIAN GARZON
