Terry Flanagan vs. Mzonke Fana: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info

Terry Flanagan makes the third defence of his WBO lightweight title against Mzonke Fana on Saturday.

The bout is part of a busy card in Cardiff, Wales, that also includes WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux taking on Englishman James "Jazza" Dickens.

The unbeaten Flanagan (30-0, 12 KOs) might have hoped for a bigger name in the opposite corner, but the experienced Fana (38-9, 16 KOs) is a two-time world champion at super featherweight.

Bleacher Report will provide live updates of the action from the Ice Arena Wales from 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET).

When: Saturday, July 16, 9 p.m. BST (4 p.m. ET)

Where: Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff, Wales

TV: BoxNation (UK)

Live stream: BoxNation (UK)

Looking Ahead

Flanagan is not the type of boxer to take his eye off the ball.

A down-to-earth character who hasn't let his status as a world champion change him too much, the 27-year-old from Manchester, England, knows he has to stay focused against Fana.

There are major fights on the horizon—but only if he retains his current status in the division. Without a belt, he becomes a tricky southpaw few other lightweights will want to face.

It seems a unification fight with WBC holder Dejan Zlaticanin could be on the cards for later in the year, as Flanagan told Tom Gray of The Ring magazine:

"

I’m looking to get Fana out the way and then I’ll be going after (Dejan) Zlaticanin’s WBC title.

(Promoter) Frank (Warren) has held talks with his team and they are happy to go ahead with that unification match. If I can get past Fana and Zlaticanin, [Anthony] Crolla will have to fight me because I’ll be number one at lightweight.

"

The Crolla fight is the one Flanagan really wants. So too do British boxing fans.

The two Manchester lads went to the same school and a clash between two world champions (Crolla holds the WBA strap) from the same city would be a special occasion indeed.

However, Crolla is scheduled to defend against Jorge Linares on September 24. It seems Flanagan will have to wait to get his wish, possibly until 2017.

Still, before he can contemplate Crolla, Zlaticanin or any other of the leading names at 135 pounds for that matter, he must first take care of business against Fana.

Golden Oldie

Fana will be aiming to roll back the years at the weekend.

The South African built his reputation at super feather, twice enjoying stints as IBF champion.

He also challenged for the WBC title way back in 2005 but lost to the great Marco Antonio Barrera inside two rounds.

Since moving up to lightweight, The Rose of Khayelitsha has experienced a mixed bag of results.

He is the reigning South African champion but has suffered defeats to Paulus Moses, Edis Tatli, Xolisani Ndongeni and Hedi Slimani.

At the age of 42, the one opponent Fana cannot hope to beat is Father Time.

However, he believes there's still plenty left in the tank yet, particularly as his last two outings have seen him record victories inside the distance.

Per Mesuli Zifo of BoxingScene.com, Fana said: "I know I am being seen as an easy payday for Flanagan but I know what I’m capable of. I have dealt with young boxers who saw me as an old man and if Flanagan thinks the same he is in with a shock."

But Fana is an old man. It's up to him to prove he still belongs at the highest level, having not been involved in a world-title fight since losing to Cassius Baloyi in 2008.

Prediction

Fana is talking a good game, yet can he produce a notable performance at the tail end of his career? In a word—no.

It doesn't help his cause that Flanagan, who, per Odds Shark, is 1-100 to retain his crown, is a dedicated champion.

The Mancunian knows what is at stake, and while it may take him a little time to get to grips with his challenger, he will triumph inside the distance. Look for him to force a stoppage in the middle rounds.