Terry Flanagan signs deal with MTK Global

Former lightweight titleholder and junior welterweight title challenger Terry Flanagan has signed with MTK Global, the company announced today.

Flanagan, 29, had his career guided to glory before by Steve Wood and Frank Warren, and says he’s still looking to fight for world titles.

“I’m happy and I feel like it’s a new chapter in my career. Steve Wood and Frank Warren did everything for me, from helping me get the British title to then winning a world title and defending it five times, so I’m extremely grateful to them,” he said.

“They always believed in me, but I’m at the stage now in my career where I need to be active. MTK Global are of the same opinion, and they have set a plan out for me for 2019. I’m really pleased to sign with them as they have some really big fighters and I see myself up there alongside those guys.”

Flanagan (33-2, 13 KO) won the vacant WBO lightweight title in 2015, when Jose Zepeda suffered a shoulder injury and didn’t come out for the third round. But Flanagan proved he wasn’t a complete fluke of a titleholder, too, defending successfully against Diego Magdaleno, Derry Mathews, Mzonke Fana, Orlando Cruz, and Petr Petrov — granted, not exactly the super top dogs of the 135-pound division from 2015-17, but a solid run of wins.

He vacated and moved up to 140 to face Maurice Hooker for the vacant WBO belt at that weight in June 2018, losing by decision in Manchester. Flanagan, though, wasn’t deterred, and took a crack at the World Boxing Super Series next, going to New Orleans to face Regis Prograis. Prograis won a wide decision.

He’s lost two straight at the moment, but this is not a fighter afraid to take a risk in search of glory. He’ll probably get a bounce-back opponent or two to start this new chapter in his career, but after that don’t be surprised to see Flanagan going after the biggest fights he can get once again.