Mandatory IBF super-featherweight contender Liam Walsh assesses Petr Petrov

Mandatory IBF Super-Featherweight contender Liam Walsh says Frank Warren stablemate Terry ‘Turbo’ Flanagan will have his work cut out when he makes the fifth defence of his WBO World Lightweight crown against chiseled Russian Petr Petrov.

All-action Flanagan locks horns with former World Title challenger Petrov at the Manchester Arena on Saturday 8th April, live on BT Sport and BoxNation.

Walsh is edging closer to a World Title shot of his own against IBF Champion Gervonta Davis after talks between Warren and the Money Team banner, spearheaded by Floyd Mayweather, gathered pace this week.

‘I was due to fight Petrov in a lightweight eliminator a while back so I studied him at length. Let me tell you, he’s a very good fighter. From my base here in Tenerife, I speak to all the main Spanish boxing bods and they all rate him very highly, speak about his exceptional strength.

He’s a typical Russian, very well schooled, very methodical, solid, effective, good formation. He’s built to last, grinds opponents down and I’d be very surprised if he didn’t last the course.

In the Maidana fight, he showed massive balls, continually getting up and fighting back hard, even though he was taking a belting. Besides, he was pretty inexperienced back then and never a light-welter.

Petrov’s got a big, broad back and jabs his way in, staying quite low and hunched over. He then gets to work. He’ll definitely be competitive and give Terry problems. The champ will need to use his brain and box the right fight, if he’s to get past him.’

Terry Flanagan vs. Petr Petrov tops an unmissable evening of action at the Manchester Arena on April 8; Super-Welterweight rivals Liam Smith and Liam Williams clash in one of the most anticipated domestic dust-ups in recent times; slick South African Zolani Tete faces Arthur Villanueva in a final eliminator for the WBO World Bantamweight strap; double Olympic Gold Medallist and women’s boxing icon Nicola Adams OBE fights for the first time as a professional and former Team GB Heavyweight monster Daniel Dubois makes his highly-anticipated professional debut along with a talent packed undercard.

Tickets for April 8 priced £50, £70, £100, £150, £200, £300 and VIP £500 are available from eventim at www.eventim.co.uk and 0844 249 1000 and the Manchester Arena at www.manchester-arena.com and 0844 847 8000.