By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Challenger Mark Flanagan has praised WBA interim cruiserweight champion Arsen Goularmirian after their bout in Marseille, France on Saturday where Flanagan suffered his sixth loss in 30 fights after being stopped in round nine. Goulamirian is unbeaten in 24 fights and is trained by Abel Sanchez, who also coaches middleweight great Gennady Golovkin.

“The better man won tonight,” Flanagan said. “It’s heartbreaking to say the least but it was a very good hard fight, a war from bell to bell and I’m proud of my effort and corner for doing what they thought was right.”