Crolla ‘set to reign supreme’

LONG MAY HE REIGN OVER US . . . Anthony Crolla.

ANTHONY Crolla’s award-winning trainer Joe Gallagher believes his charge could be on the cusp of a lengthy reign as the WBA’s world lightweight champion.

Chadderton-based Crolla (29) defied pre-fight predictions last week when he wore down then pummelled much-fancied south American Ismael Barroso into a seventh-round submission in the first defence of his title.

The Manchester Arena was
buzzing after home-town boy
‘Million Dollar’ Crolla sent
Barroso packing, and Gallagher believes the city is set for similar huge nights in the future.

He said: “We knew before the Barroso fight that maybe we’d have to go into the eye of a storm and we’d have some rough moments, but despite that, I was surprised how quickly he came apart.

“He might like hitting people hard, but he doesn’t like being hit hard back.

“I said to Anthony after round five that I was so proud of him. We just needed to stick with him and we knew we had Barroso.

“Anthony stuck to a game-plan and he’s still a very worthy world champion.

“What a performance it was. Anthony just keeps getting better, and better and better.

“This is his fortress now and
no-one is going to take his title away in Manchester.”

Crolla’s promoter Eddie Hearn has saluted Crolla’s heroics, and now is about maintaining his
position among the lightweight
division’s elite.

Hearn said: “Anthony produced one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in a British boxing ring.

“He was the underdog, again, but he just went out and beat the most dangerous lightweight in the world.

“It’s about time Anthony starts to get the plaudits he deserves now as the number one lightweight in the world.”

Meanwhile, speculation has intensified over the past few days indicating that Crolla looks likely to share a ring with WBO world lightweight champ Terry ‘Turbo’ Flanagan before too long.

The two Mancunians ­— who even went to the same school, St
Matthew’s RC High in Moston — both want the unification fight.

It appears it’s now down to the two promoters ­— Hearn and opposite number Frank Warren ­— to thrash out a deal before a mega
domestic showdown at the Arena.