I could see him fade and fade and fade.
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The Mancunian doesn’t seek the limelight and is often kept in the shade by his rivals amid a packed domestic lightweight division.
Flanagan (29-0, 12 KOs) has defeated two Americans in a row in his last two fights in beating Jose Zepeda and Magdaleno, but he doesn’t seem to realize that he’s not facing the real talents yet.
Where do you see Flanagan among the top lightweights out there today?
Zepeda was a fighter with a fearsome reputation as a puncher (20 KOs in 24 fights) but Magdaleno is an all-round fighter, comfortable coming forward or boxing on the backfoot.
Flanagan has clearly signalled his world-class capabilities with this victory.
On the fight Smith said: “I think I lost the first two rounds but around the third I said to Joe (Gallagher) that this was the fight I wanted”. “He can box or stand and trade, plus he’s very strong physically”. “I feel at the minute I need a bit of a break, but we’ll see”.
I think home advantage is going to be crucial here. The uppercut which marked the beginning of the end for Magdaleno should make it on to any British review of the year highlight reel and it has been a long time since a British fighter took apart a well respected operator in such a brutally efficient manner. “I’ve still trained as hard as ever and I’m confident of winning”.
Liam Smith is one of the four famous fighting brothers from Liverpool and although he is the second youngest, he could become the first to hold a world crown. Yet Flanagan is the only one among that bunch who knows what it feels like to strap a world title belt around the waist.
But global issues forced the Frenchman to pull out, leaving American John Thompson (17-1 6 KOs) to step in six weeks ago. I seen Shane Mosley calling out Cornelius Bundrage last week and he doesn’t even have a world title. I knew it was my type of fight.
“My preparation has gone brilliantly”. It turned into my fight. Callum, 23, is ranked No 2 challenger by the World Boxing Council and will most likely get his first title shot early next year.
After a combination unleashed by Thompson was blocked by Smith in the sixth, the man from the boxing family drew Thompson into a toe-to-toe struggle, with the American, beginning to fatigue, slipping to the canvas.
Smith is favourite with the layers at 4/11 with Thompson chalked up at around the 11/4 mark.
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“A few people said I didn’t deserve to be world champion but I proved tonight that I am a true world champion”.
