Crolla relishing another Arena chance

BOXING

ANTHONY ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla is fully focused on putting on another explosive performance at the Manchester Arena on September 13.

Chadderton-based Crolla (27) has been confirmed as the joint-headline act with Bury ace Scott Quigg for the latest massive Manchester show to be promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom outfit.

WBO inter-continental lightweight champion Crolla is still waiting to hear who his opponent will be – an annoucement could be made within days – but he is hopeful of a dream World title chance.

Cuban-born American Richar Abril – the 32-year-old WBA king – could face Crolla, though Hearn revealed last week that purse negotiations had stalled.

Another potential opponent could be Scottish rival Ricky Burns, but the former world champion won’t have been helped by first losing his WBO title to Terence Crawford, then following that with a WBC international title defeat at the hands of Dejan Zlaticanin last month.

Crolla said: “Whether we can get the Abril fight back on remains to be seen – that would be the dram ticket I guess. But whatever happens and whoever I end up fighting, I’ll be good and ready.

“Fighting at the Arena, and then being joint top of the bill with Scott, will be an incredible experience and one I’ve been working so hard for since I used to watch heroes like Naseem Hamed, Michael Brodie and Ricky Hatton when I was younger.

“I’ve really stepped up the training in recent weeks and I feel great. Whoever I’m going to be in with it’s going to be explosive.”
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