PURSE BID AVOIDED FOR FLANAGAN-ZEPEDA CLASH

Manchester star Terry Flanagan will get home advantage for his shot at the WBO World Lightweight Championship against Mexican knockout king Jose Zepeda.

Flanagan’s promoter Frank Warren and Zepeda’s promoter Top Rank have avoided a purse bid scheduled for today at the WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico after reaching an agreement last night.

Undefeated Flanagan was originally due to meet the winner out of Ray Beltran and Takahiro Ao who clashed earlier this month, but the title was declared vacant when Beltran failed to make the official weight at the weigh-in.

Subsequently, Beltran won the fight with a devastating second round knockout of Ao, but the title remained vacant with WBO mandatory challenger Flanagan then ordered to face Zepeda.

A date and venue will be announced shortly for when the Flanagan-Zepeda clash will take place.