Terry Flanagan Needs to Improve as He Prepares for Tougher Tests at Lightweight

For Terry Flanagan, the wait appears to be over. The understated, somewhat under-appreciated lightweight is set to finally hit the big time.

The WBO champion successfully defended his title on Saturday, unanimously beating Mzonke Fana on points at the Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff.

The fight was about as enjoyable to watch as the 2006 remake of the classic film The Wicker Man. But, while critics panned Nicolas Cage's performance in the film a decade ago, Flanagan should be spared criticism for his display.

The Englishman had initially been due to appear in his home city of Manchester, England, seven days earlier. However, Tyson Fury's ankle injury put paid to the card at the Manchester Arena.

Having prepared for action on July 9, Flanagan understandably looked out-of-sorts in the Welsh capital.

There wasn't the usual snap in the southpaw's punches. The accuracy that had been so notable in his two-round demolition of Diego Magdaleno last October was sadly missing.

Too often he cut down the distance to his opponent, resulting in him smothering potential openings. Had he taken a step back, giving him a little more space in which to work, a knockout was there for the taking.

To some extent, though, he wasn't helped by Fana.

While never looking remotely likely to cause an upset, the South African had a method that allowed him to stick around for the full 12 rounds.

A former two-time world champion at super featherweight, the 42-year-old challenger had a habit of ducking low after lurching forward. The tactic led to Flanagan too often pinning down his opponent's head with his right hand while trying to land with the left, leading to warnings from referee Steve Gray for holding.

The Mancunican did score two knockdowns on his way to recording a landslide victory on the scorecards. Bad Left Hook tweeted the verdict:

Yet Flanagan's face at the final bell told the true picture. He wore the expression of a man who realised it was his round next at the bar, only to check his watch and work out happy hour finished five minutes ago.

Sure, he won. But it was a below-par display lacking in sharpness and quality. While far from a heavy hitter, a stoppage victory looked easily achievable against an opponent well past his prime.

The 27-year-old didn't pull any punches when assessing his display during an interview with broadcasters BoxNation (h/t ESPN):

"

I'm not happy with that performance. I felt flat and I didn't think I was keeping my boxing going for long enough.

If I had I would have taken him out of there. There was no accumulation of punches and I wasn't using the angles but we'll sort it out in the gym. I was falling in and loading up—looking stupid really. I should be taking kids like this to pieces.

"

At least Flanagan kept hold of his belt. Now he could finally get to face one of the major names in the division.

In his column for the Daily Star, promoter Frank Warren revealed he is "working" on a potential unification clash with WBC champion Dejan Zlaticanin for later in the year.

Zlaticanin is no stranger to Britain. In 2014, he defeated home-favourite Ricky Burns on points in Glasgow, Scotland. The split-decision verdict was generous—the Montenegrin was a deserved winner after 12 rounds.

After toiling against Fana, Flanagan would relish the opportunity to face his fellow southpaw.

David A. Smith/Getty Images

A victory would add a second belt and push him towards the top of the pile in a packed lightweight division.

Anthony Crolla—Flanagan's former schoolmate in Manchester—and Jorge Linares fight for The Ring magazine crown in September. The stage would be set for the winner of that bout to meet the winner of Flanagan and Zlaticanin's fight early in 2017, deciding who is the best at 135 pounds.

Yet there is another name who could figure in Flanagan's future—Vasyl Lomachenko.

Having become a two-weight world champion by dethroning WBO champion Roman Martinez in June, Ukrainian Lomachenko may not hang around at super featherweight for too long.

According to James Robson of the Manchester Evening News, Bob Arum—Lomachenko's promoter—said: "I talked to [Warren] and we’re discussing early next year in Lomachenko’s ninth or tenth fight, sending him over to England to fight Terry Flanagan for the WBO lightweight title.

"That will be interesting. [Warren] is excited about that."

Flanagan is excited by the idea too.

On the prospect of facing Lomachenko, he said, per Chris McKenna of the Express: "I would love fights like that. People will laugh at me calling people out after that performance, they will say ‘Lomachenko would stop him in this round, or he wouldn’t last this long’ but wait until you see me at my best."

Turbo Terry barely hit third gear against Fana. If it is Zlaticanin next, he will need to be at full speed.

There is certainly more to come from Flanagan, and facing a higher standard of opponent could well bring out the best in him.

However, he is a world champion who still needs to prove he belongs at the top.

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