By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

WBA #8 Mark “Bam Bam” Flanagan (22-4, 15 KOs) will challenge WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-3, 22 KOs) at the DIVS in Ekaterinburg, Russia on Sunday. Flanagan’s manager Angelo DiCarlo is confident his charge will cause a major upset over the heavily favored Russian.

DiCarlo who guides Flanagan’s career talked to Paul Nasari on radio 2BACR, 100.9fm. “Mark is a genuine world class puncher,” said DiCarlo. “He hasn’t been beaten as a cruiserweight.

“Lebedev has beaten the best out there but these are opportunities you have got to take. Our past world champions Jeff Fenech and Daniel Geale went overseas as the B Team and not expected to win. I believe in Mark’s power and he will not be worried who is in the other corner. We have seen other boxers from Australia when they had their opportunities they didn’t seem to let go with their hands.

“Mark will be completely different – he will let go with his hands. He is backing himself. Mark is a great young man and he has been lost in the hype of the Jeff Horn versus Manny Pacquiao fight but his fight with Lebedev is the real deal – he (Lebedev) is the super champ and Mark is going to make us proud.”