Protocol Sports Marketing, the world’s leading distributor of boxing broadcast rights, is pleased to announce that beIN Sports will televise, in USA and Canada, Queensberry Promotions’ October 10 world title double-header event, “World War III”, live from Manchester, United Kingdom.

Headlining an action-packed card will be two world title bouts, both of which will pit the UK versus the USA.  Manchester’s WBO World Lightweight Champion Terry Flanagan (28-0, 11 KO) makes his first title defense against California heavy hitter Diego Magdaleno (28-1, 12 KO), and Liverpool star Liam Smith (20-0, 10 KO) faces New Jersey banger John Thompson (17-1, 6 KO) with the vacant WBO World Super Welterweight Title on the line.

Flanagan believes that he has a lot to prove after winning the world title from Jose Zepeda in July, when Zepeda dislocated his shoulder in the second round.  He’ll be looking to do a demolition job on mandatory contender Magdaleno.

“It’s always a big occasion when the American fighters come over to Britain and especially when there’s a world title on the line,” says Flanagan.  “There’s that extra heat because the Americans are big, loud and brash and think that they’re the best.  It makes you train that extra bit harder to give them a good hiding in the ring.”

Flanagan’s opponent, Magdaleno, has only lost to Roman Martinez and has since rebounded with five straight victories, three of which came by way of stoppage.  While he came up short in his first world title challenge in 2013, losing by split decision, Magdaleno enters the ring on October 10 ready to prove himself a champion.

In the afternoon’s co-feature, Liam Smith draws inspiration from Joe Calzaghe’s victory over then-unbeaten American Jeff Lacy at the Manchester Arena nearly a decade ago which was described by many as the finest-ever performance by a British boxer in a British ring.

“This is my big chance to not only win the world title, but to show the boxing world that I’ve arrived,” says Smith.  “Thompson is a good fighter and I know that he’s coming over here with one thing on his mind; to give me a beating and take the world title back to America.”

Thompson anticipates a mighty battle but nevertheless expects to return through Customs with the WBO belt packed neatly into his luggage.  “I saw the big response that Ricky Hatton got from the Manchester fans, but I’m certainly not worried about fighting there,” Thompson notes.  “I view it as a positive opportunity for me to broaden my fan base, and show the world what John Thompson IV is all about.