Manchester Thunder linking up with Terry Flanagan ahead of Wasps showdown
"They were just as interested in the netball side of things, laughing about it being a non-contact sport but seeing it can be just as brutal as boxing sometimes."
Tuesday 5 June 2018 19:24, UK
Ricky Hatton, Anthony Crolla and John Murray are some of Manchester's favourite boxing sons and all have fought at the Manchester Arena which has also hosted an Anthony Joshua title fight, Prince Naseem Hamed and the first episode of the Froch-Groves biopic.
This weekend in the Vitality Superleague it plays host to another heavyweight contest as top-of-the-table Wasps take on third-placed Manchester Thunder who are taking inspiration from the city's boxing scene as they prepare for a huge contest.
Manchester Arena is a fitting venue for the occasion as Thunder prepare to play there for the first time after last year's Manchester Netball Live was moved following the terrorist attack.
It promises to be an emotional occasion but also pivotal in the battle for Superleague supremacy with a top-four place and home semi-final advantage on the line for both teams, and head coach Karen Greig is leaving no stone unturned.
Having teamed up with Rugby League team the Wigan Warriors for pre-season, Greig and her Thunder charges have sought the advice of super-lightweight contender and Manchester native Terry Flanagan ahead of Saturday's action which is live on Sky Sports Arena.
Flanagan and female super welterweight Stacey Copeland put Thunder through their paces as part of the preparations and Greig was delighted with the results.
"It's always good to see the players in a different environment and to see what they are made of - I don't think Joyce [Mvula] had ever boxed in her life coming from Malawi," Greig told Sky Sports.
"She was a bit squeamish at first but once she got stuck in, I would not have wanted to be on the end of one of her punches!"
Flanagan fights Maurice Hooker next weekend hoping to become a two-weight world champion and Greig feels elite sportsmen and women have plenty to gain from each other.
"It is great to link up with other sports, they have different training regimes and obviously do some different things to us in netball," she said.
"Ultimately in sport, it comes down to mentality and it was great to get in the ring with Terry [Flanagan] and Stacey Copeland another Manchester boxer.
"They both have big fights coming up in the next few weeks and to have them both with us on the same day to pick their brains was great.
"Sports people are very similar and for us it is great to see how they all do things - from training to analysis to recovery it's about cementing our foundation by getting and building on new ideas as well.
Off the court it promises to stir the city as well with plenty of emotion evident after the attack on the city in May 2017 and Greig is hoping Thunder pay their own tribute with a fitting display and occasion.
"Last year with the atrocities in the city we were obviously disappointed that we didn't get the chance to step out on such a great arena but lives were lost and even more were affected." she said.
"It is going to be emotional for everyone involved and all our matchday reference has 22 bees to represent the lives that were lost.
"It will be a poignant moment so hopefully we can go out there and get the win as a tribute to those that lost their lives and those still so affected by the tragedy."
Thunder sit six points adrift of Wasps going into the final weeks of the season and need another couple of wins to secure their top-four spot, but a win on Saturday will close the gap on the leaders to just three points.
"We say top four is the target but in an ideal world we want to finish in the top two because that brings with it a home semi-final," Greig added.
"A win this weekend would be huge in a push for the top two as the Thunder crowd are fantastic and to have them behind us in a home semi-final would be great
"Our last game was really pleasing, the top five are so tight that goal difference could end up playing such a big part.
"The last few games have seen us find better consistency and better form and it is hopefully coming at the right time.
So after rugby league and boxing where has Greig set her sights next: "If my boss is reading, I wouldn't mind going out to America for a bit of ice hockey."
Our live coverage continues on Saturday when Manchester Thunder host Wasps on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Arena from 2pm.
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