Mark Flanagan – “As for future opponents, I just want the best”

 
MARK Flanagan’s reign as Australian cruiserweight champion begins in earnest against big-punching New South Welshman Shane Quinn.

 
Flanagan, 24, is arguably the wildcard in a stacked cruiserweight division, which as of now, lacks an outright figurehead. With a complete training camp behind him, the national champion is looking to make a statement in his first title defence.

 
“My training camp has been good, I’ve trained for ten weeks for this fight and I’m feeling great,” said Flanagan in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
When quizzed about the motivation to train as a champion, rather than a title challenger, Flanagan (16-4, 10 KOs) made it clear that the motivation to stay on top is much stronger than the motivation that brought him to this level as a title challenger.

 
The status as champion is something that Flanagan has no intention of relinquishing anytime soon.

 
“If anything, I think I’ve pushed myself a bit harder this camp being the champion. You’ve got to train extra hard, so that way, you can stay the champion,”

 
In Quinn, 38, Flanagan is facing a relentless challenger with an appetite for vicious knockouts. While Flanagan has a contender for knockout of the year – a highlight reel one-punch knockout of Andy Green – Flanagan is more than aware of the danger that a fight with Quinn (10-1-1, 8 KOs) represents.

 
“Shane Quinn is as tough as they come and I know he is hungry for my belt,” he continued. “So I think this is a great fight to finish off what has been a good year for me, as for future opponents, I just want the best.”

 
When Flanagan speaks of the best, it almost goes without saying the names that he is speaking of. Having already beaten division lynchpin Daniel Ammann, the Townsville-resident is looking to secure a match-up with Brad Pitt, David Aloua or Anthony McCracken in the opening stages of next year.

 
“There are some big names and some heavy hitters in the cruiserweight division and I personally think I’m ready to take on the best next year,” Flanagan explained.

 
“I know a lot of people out there still doubt me and think I’m not up there with the best but in 2015, everyone will see that I belong at the top of the table,”

 
 
Photo: Hayden Hooper/Chatterboxing