Terry Flanagan vs. Orlando Cruz – Official weights

By Boxing News - 11/25/2016 - Comments

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By Scott Gilfoid: WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan (31-0, 12 KOs) successfully weighed in on Friday in coming in at 134.8 pounds for his voluntary title defense against #13 WBO Orlando Cruz (25-4-1, 13 KOs) this Saturday night on November 26 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.

The 35-year-old Cruz also weighed in at 134.8lbs. Cruz has won his last five fights since losing back to back matches against Orlando Salido and Gamalier Rodriguez. Cruz hasn’t beaten anyone good to earn the title shot, but I don’t think that really matters to Flanagan. I think the idea is he’s got someone he can beat and hold onto his title for a little while longer.

Believe me, there are guys that Flanagan could have fought that would give him a lot more problems than the 35-year-old Cruz. For starters, Flanagan could have fought #1 WBO Felix Verdejo, Jose Felix Jr., Mason Menard or Sharif Bogere. Could Flanagan have beaten all of those fighters? I don’t know, but I do think they’d be tougher options than Cruz. There would at least be the possibility that Flanagan could lose.

In fighting Cruz, it’s a slam dunk win for 27-year-old Flanagan. He wins on age alone. But the 5’9” Flanagan is also a lot bigger than the 5’4” Cruz. We’re talking five inches taller. After Flanagan rehydrates for his fights, he looks like a welterweight. I don’t know how Flanagan makes weight. It’s got to be hard for him to melt down to 135lbs, because he looks huge after he rehydrates.

Flanagan looks like he should be fighting in the welterweight division rather than at 135lbs. I’d prefer to see Flanagan fight someone his own size like Robert Easter Jr. That would be interesting to see how well Flanagan holds up with Easter Jr. bouncing huge power shots off his chin for 12 rounds. I can’t see Flanagan beating Easter Jr. or Richard Commey. But I also don’t see Flanagan ever fighting either of those two, because they’re too good. Unless those guys go through the World Boxing Organization for a shot at Flanagan, I think they’re forever going to be ignored by him.

There are a lot of guys that Flanagan can obviously beat in the lightweight division, but Easter Jr. and Commey are two that I don’t see him ever being able to defeat. I also don’t see Flanagan being able to beat Verjedo. It might be close, but I see Verdejo having too much speed and power for Flanagan. I’m just wondering how long it’ll be before the WBO orders them to fight each other, because Vederjo is rated #1.

It sure would be nice if the WBO made that fight happen sooner rather than later. As far as I can tell, Flanagan is taking his third consecutive voluntary defense in facing Cruz. In Flanagan’s last two fights, he’s fought 42-year-old Mzonke Fana last July and then Derry Mathews before him in voluntary defenses. I’ll be interesting to see if the WBO lets Flanagan get another voluntary defense after the Cruz fight. It would be nice if Flanagan got the Verdejo fight out of the way. If he can’t beat Verdejo, then he shouldn’t be holding down the WBO belt.

This Saturday’s Flanagan vs. Cruz fight will be televised on BoxNation.