Manchester lightweight Anthony Crolla has this morning received the news that he had been longing to hear – the WBA have “ordered” a rematch of this month’s world title challenge to Columbian (reg) champion Darleys Perez which saw Crolla battle to a controversial draw in spite of a 2 point deduction from the champion for low blows late in the fight.
This morning, Crolla’s promoter Eddie Hearn tweeted;
Last night saw heartbreak for Anthony Crolla’s world title dreams in Manchester when a valiant and spirited effort from the home-town challenger ended in a controversial draw, despite champion Darleys Perez losing two points for low blow infringements.
The challenger put in a heroic shift that upon the sounding of the final belt saw his corner hoist him into the air to the raucous cheers of the partisan crowd who threatened to take the roof off.
However the joy was to be short lived, and after some initial confusion regarding the scorecards, legendary MC Michael Buffer dealt the crushing blow that the fight was a draw and the belt was returning to Colombia.
Scott Quigg v Kiko Martinez
Regular WBA World bantamweight champion Scott Quigg, 31-0-2 (23KO’s), laid down a marker the size of the Manchester Arena tonight blasting former World super bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez, 32-6 (24KO’s) to pieces inside two rounds, in front of a packed hometown crowd.
Midway through the 2nd round, Quigg took absolutely everything from his Spanish opponent – who seemed to be warming to the task after an encouraging opener – with an enormous right uppercut that dipped his legs and left him laid on the canvas moments later following a further assault from the vicious champion.
It would be hard to recall a more deserving and popular British World champion than Anthony Crolla, 29-4-2 (11KO’s), should the 28-year old from Manchester defeat reigning WBA World lightweight champion Darleys Perez, 32-1 (20KO’s), on Saturday night.
On paper it looks a formidable task for Crolla, facing the heavy-handed Columbian, beaten on only one occasion against the talented Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa (UD12). Only to follow, with 4 straight victories, during a period of smooth success, in which he claimed the interim WBA lightweight title and defended it on 2 occasions in decent company.
Crolla’s fighting career was in serious danger of ending last December, when he was attacked after foiling a burglary attempt at a neighbour’s home – an incident that left him with a fractured skull, a broken ankle, and a whole lot of uncertainty as to whether he would ever even box again.
The saga began with Crolla being due to face then-champ Richar Abril for the belt but fate intervened before Christmas when the Manchester prizefighter was hit over the head with a concrete slab confronting burglars at a neighbour’s home.
A fractured skull and a broken ankle, sustained during the assault has kept him out of action until now.
Despite the cancellation of that fight being a crushing blow to his career, it is apparent that Crolla has not lost focus and even with the short amount of time since the incident, he is already back in the ring preparing for his world title opportunity. His team have been pleased with the work he is doing and all indicators suggest he is in the process of a full and speedy recovery.
It would be fair to say that Quigg (28-0-2 21KO’s) has had a strange year to say the least, since announcing himself on the world scene with a destructive performance when halting former world title challenger and everyone’s favourite bin man, Rendall Munroe, in 6. After which, Quigg was handed the WBA Super Bantamweight World Title, when 8st 10lbs ruler Guillermo Rigondeaux was announced ‘Super’ Champion.
From the outset Murray came out hard and fast as expected and Crolla had to dig deep so as not to be overwhelmed. The pace was a hot one straight away and Murray’s vicious and relentless body work was proving effective. Crolla countered well, though, and he landed the cleaner work upstairs. Crolla did look like he was perhaps tiring by the 4th and 5th-round but Murray’s right eye was swelling noticeably.
Talks are currently ongoing for Manchester lightweights Anthony Crolla and John Murray to meet in a mouth-watering clash in April. The Manchester Evening News reports how the fight could take place on April 19th on the under-card of Scott Quigg’s WBA super-bantamweight title defence against Nehomar Cermeno at The Manchester Arena.