Terry Flanagan Gets the Chance to Prove Himself Against Diego Magdaleno

It seems strange to say this about a world champion, but Terry Flanagan needs to make a statement on Saturday night in his home city of Manchester, England.

Turbo Terry has quietly progressed to the top table in the lightweight division. He is 28-0 (11 KOs), has previously picked up the British and European belts, and at the age of 26, he's just coming into his prime.

However, Flanagan still feels like Britain’s best-kept boxing secret ahead of his fight with Diego Magdaleno.

The domestic lightweight scene is crowded, and several others have stolen attention away from the man who became the first Englishman to win a world title at the 135-pound limit.

Kevin Mitchell has tried and failed on three occasions to achieve what Flanagan has, yet he still finds himself inside the top 10 in the Ring’s ratings.

Flanagan’s fellow Mancunian Anthony Crolla fell just short in his attempt to take the WBA strap from Darleys Perez back in July. But he'll get another shot at the same man on November 21.

Then there is Luke Campbell, the Olympic gold medalist who is 12-0 and wants more than just local bragging rights since beating Tommy Coyle in August. A jewel in the Matchroom Boxing crown, Campbell has the backing and the boxing ability to go far.

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Add in Ricky Burns, a two-weight world champion who has hopes of winning another, plus Derry Mathews, the interim WBA title holder who always comes to fight, and you start to realise the scene is more crowded than an L.S. Lowry painting.

For what he has achieved, Flanagan should be front and centre in the lightweight picture. Yet he has let his performances in the ring do the talking, quietly rising through the ranks without the fanfare afforded to others.

Perhaps he hasn’t emerged from the crowd just yet because of the circumstances that saw him become world champion.

He was crowned at the Velodrome in Manchester after opponent Jose Zepeda was forced to pull out of their fight after two rounds due to a dislocated shoulder.

It was an unsatisfactory end to an intriguing fight, with the previously unbeaten Zepeda suggesting in the early stages that he would have been a tricky customer to deal with.

The pair may meet again in the future, but now Flanagan has to focus on Magdaleno, a mandatory challenger with a 28-1 (12 KOs) record.

The American’s CV suggests he isn’t travelling from Las Vegas to simply pick up a cheque for his troubles.

Magdaleno failed in his previous attempt to become a world champion, albeit at super featherweight. However, he has won five on the spin since being on the wrong end of a split decision against Roman Martinez in 2013.

He has fanned the flames before his bout with Flanagan, telling Chris McKenna of the Daily Star:

"

I've seen him in the ring, and I've seen he can fight, there is a lot of qualities of this guy, but he has never been in the ring with someone like me.

That world title fight was too short. He needs to prove himself in this fight. He got the title with the two-round win, but he has to step up and prove himself to his own people as well.

I'm ready for anything he brings. I've fought a lot better than him. He has never been in the same level as me.

"

Magdaleno is right on two fronts: The current champion does have a lot of qualities, and he still needs to prove himself at the highest level.

There are some similarities between Flanagan and Ricky Hatton, the former world champion from Manchester who Flanagan sneaked in to watch defeat Kostya Tszyu on a career-defining night for The Hitman.

Like Hatton, Flanagan is more than happy boxing up close. He's also a big Manchester City fan.

Hatton, though, was a come-forward, pressure fighter. He swarmed opponents, wearing them down with relentless attacks to both body and head.

Flanagan, meanwhile, is happy to box off either front or back foot. He is less about overwhelming his opposition and more about picking them off behind a tight defensive technique. 

It also doesn’t seem as if the trappings of holding a world title are going to see him alter, as he told Tom Gray of Ring:

"

My feet are always on the ground. I have the same house, the same car, the same everything. I don’t look too far ahead because I’m aware that things can change overnight.

I’m confident that I can defend this world title, but I don’t like to put added pressure on myself.

I stick to the same routine, I stay at home with my family, and I work hard in the gym.

"

Hatton believes Flanagan has his head screwed on the right way, telling David Anderson of the Mirror, "Success can change people sometimes, but I don't think it will change [Flanagan]. He's just a Manchester lad done well."

Flanagan may not have changed, but a win over Magdaleno could see him emerge from the shadows cast by others, allowing him to finally be viewed as Britain's best lightweight.