Terry Flanagan happy to face the fearsome Vasyl Lomachenko
Wednesday 15 June 2016 14:01, UK
WBO world lightweight champion Terry Flanagan lies in wait if Vasyl Lomachenko wants to make another swift step up in weight.
Manchester's Flanagan has named his next opponent as 42-year-old Mzonke Fana (38-9-KO16) after a potential clash with WBA champion and former schoolmate Anthony Crolla was scrapped in favour of 'Million Dollar' taking on Jorge Linares.
Having been left frustrated in his attempt to secure an all-Manchester unification bout, Flanagan hopes to be able to one day set his sights on Ukrainian sensation Lomachenko, who became a two-weight world champion in just his seventh fight when he stopped Roman Martinez on June 11.
Flanagan said: "I'd love the fight with (Vasyl) Lomachenko if he steps up in weight and goes for a world title in a third weight-class. I wouldn't be scared.
"He looks class, a real good fighter, but I want to fight the very best in the world and, if anybody can beat him, I think it will be me. We've both got a similar style and we'd have a good fight, I'm sure."
On the Crolla saga, Flanagan added: "I've just got to concentrate on my boxing, keep winning and hopefully people will continue talking about the fight and the Crolla team will do the right thing.
"If we both keep winning, it might happen down the line but I'm not confident it will.
"I think he knows my style will give him problems and I don't think his team believe he can beat me. It's a shame because Anthony's a great fighter and has looked really good his last three fights. He has looked big, strong, fit and has boxed well.
"A fight between us would go down on paper as a 50-50 fight. I just think my better boxing ability would mean I outbox him."
Crolla won his title by halting Darleys Perez in November 2015 and enjoyed a phenomenal maiden defence in May when he withstood an early barrage from Ismael Barroso before recording a seventh-round knockout.
