BLACKBIRD Leys boxer Ciaran Flanagan hopes a strong following will help him when he fights in Swindon this weekend.

The 25-year-old super bantamweight is gearing up for his fourth professional bout on Saturday when he takes on the experienced Jake Pollard at the MECA venue.

Flanagan’s last fight – also at MECA – was only in June, when he beat Stephen Jackson on points.

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Flanagan, who recently started training at Bicester Boxing Club, has spent part of his eight-week long training camp at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport, the home of England Boxing.

He said: “It’s been a really hard and gruelling camp with lots of sessions and lots of sparring with different lads. Now that it’s fight week, I just want to get out there.

“I’ve been up to Sheffield and that was an amazing experience. The facilities and staff were unbelievable, and it was a really good experience. It was so intriguing to see how they coach up there.”

On the challenge against Pollard this weekend, Flanagan said: “He’s a tough opponent and I’m expecting a tough fight, but I want to put on a good show.

“There are a load of lads going and saying they’ll be singing Oxford United songs. It’s one of those things with the Oxford and Swindon rivalry.”

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