By Elliot Foster

Terry Flanagan has moved up in weight after a frustrating reign as a lightweight world champion.

The WBO king, who had five defences of the crown he won back in 2015, had the move confirmed by the sanctioning body on social media on Thursday.

Flanagan (33-0, 13 KOs) recently said that a deal was “all but done” to fight Jorge Linares, the WBC Diamond champion at 135 pounds, but it has now been confirmed that the 28-year-old will campaign a division north at super-lightweight.

According to the WBO, ‘Turbo’ enters the rankings at 140lbs in the number one position for a title which is currently still officially held by Terence Crawford, despite it being common knowledge that the Nebraskan plans to move to welterweight.

That means that Flanagan could well fight for the title, in a vacant capacity, in his next fight. Maurice Hooker, the NABO champion, is also rated highly, while the Inter-Continental and newly crowned British champion Jack Catterall and Jose Zepeda who Flanagan won the lightweight belt against over two years ago are also in the top five of the latest rankings.

Boxing Scene tried to contact Flanagan, who was unavailable at the time of writing.

Further details regarding his ring return will be revealed in due course.

IN OTHER NEWS: Removed just a few days from her 15th birthday, Ranee Schroeder made boxing history last December by becoming the world’s youngest promoter, staging a couple of WBF and UBO title bouts in her hometown of Bielefeld, Germany.

Well, it wasn’t a one-off, as it emerges now that Ranee has penciled in a 12-round World Boxing Federation (WBF) world championship bout to headline a show at the renowned Essen Fairgrounds in the City of Essen, on Saturday November 18.

The event is staged in conjunction with the German Boxing Association (GBA), and the 10th-grade teenage promoter has lined up Berlin Cruiserweight Serdar Sahin, 26-2 (17 KO’s), to vie for the currently vacant WBF world title against an opponent to be announced soon.

“I have two or three options at the moment,” explains Ranee, “but it’s good working with Serdar, who is easy-going and has brought in some sponsors to help the show.”

Ranee grew up in boxing, because her father Olaf is involved in the sport for more than 30 years, and she has always had a keen interest. Unfazed by the fact that promoting her second show before she has celebrated her 16th birthday, Ranee has shown maturity way beyond her age.