Crolla receptive to British superfight

ONE STEP AT A TIME . . . Anthony Crolla has his own agenda to complete before any unification showdown.

CHADDERTON-based WBA world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla isn’t ruling out the prospect of facing the winner of Terry Flanagan and Derry Mathews in a massive all-Manchester unification showdown.

Promoter Frank Warren offered Crolla £500,000 to face the winner of Flanagan, the reigning WBO king, and Mathews, who clash on February 13 in Liverpool.

‘Million Dollar’ Crolla said: “It’s a great offer, but I can’t really consider it knowing I’ve got my own fight to come. Both teams can talk after our next fights are behind us - so there’s every chance of the fight happening.”

Crolla lost to Scouser Mathews in a sixth-round stoppage at Oldham Sports Centre in April 2012. A year later they battled to a draw at the Echo Arena – a fight that won the British Boxing Board of Control’s Fight of the Year award – but Crolla would be keen for revenge.

But Crolla, who went to the same school as Flanagan, can’t see past a win for his fellow Mancunian come February 13.

He said: “I fancy Terry to stop Derry between rounds six and eight. Derry is a brave fighter, but I think Terry’s style is all wrong for him. If Derry is going to win he needs to catch Terry with a big punch early.”