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<\/a>Undefeated 140-pound contenders Terry Flanagan and Maurice Hooker faced off on Thursday just two days before they meet for the vacant WBO Junior Welterweight World Championship on Saturday at Manchester Arena.<\/p>\nFlanagan vs. Hooker serves as the chief support for the long-awaited return of former unified heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. Both bouts will stream live exclusively to U.S. audiences on the SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page and SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET\/1:30 p.m. PT.<\/p>\n
Live coverage for the Frank Warren-promoted event will be provided by BT Sport with U.K. sportscasters John Rawling providing the blow-by-blow and Richie Woodhall the analysis. Boxing broadcaster Ray Flores and analyst Chris Mannix will deliver pre and post-fight analysis from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles for the SHOWTIME Sports audience.<\/p>\n
The live stream of Fury vs. Seferi will precede that evening\u2019s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING\u00ae doubleheader that features WBA Featherweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz in a highly anticipated rematch against former world champion Abner Mares live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET\/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Staples Center. In the co-feature, Jermell Charlo will face Austin Trout for the WBC Super Welterweight World Championship.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what Flanagan and Hooker had to say on Thursday:<\/p>\n
Terry Flanagan<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m more than ready. I\u2019ve prepared well, and I\u2019m expecting a good night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course he believes in himself, like the last few Americans that have come over. He\u2019s just another American I\u2019m going to add to the list.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m confident. I\u2019m stronger and I\u2019m bigger, fitter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m more than ready. I know what he\u2019s going to bring, and I\u2019m prepared for the best Maurice Hooker. \u2026 I think I need to step up now and show people what I\u2019m about.\u201d<\/p>\n (On moving up a weight class) \u201cIt\u2019s five pounds, it\u2019s nothing. I\u2019m plenty big enough to move up again. I\u2019m 5-foot-10. I\u2019m big, I\u2019m strong, I\u2019m ready for this weight. This is my natural weight. \u2026 I\u2019ll get a title at this weight and then see what happens from there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing he can do now or that I can do now to change how the fight is going to go. It\u2019s all about getting in there and being 100 percent switched on ready, and we\u2019re going to have a fight Saturday night.\u201d<\/p>\n Maurice Hooker<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI love being the underdog \u2013 I\u2019ve been the underdog my whole life, and look where I\u2019m at now. I\u2019m ready to fight Saturday, and Terry\u2019s ready to fight. I\u2019m going to punch him in the mouth, and I hope he punches me back \u2013 if not, he\u2019s in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to put on a good show come Saturday night. He\u2019s in good shape, and I\u2019m in good shape. We can go 12 rounds real hard, or it might be an early night for Terry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m back now and better than ever. I\u2019m ready to show the whole world who I am. Before that fight with Darleys Perez, everybody was scared to fight me. I\u2019m still that monster, I\u2019m still that dog. Come Saturday night, I\u2019m going to punch him in the mouth and I might knock him out in the first round.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome Saturday night, I pray for him, because I mean business when I get in that ring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my best against his best. We\u2019ve got a fight Saturday night, so don\u2019t blink.\u201d<\/p>\n