On a lengthy night of boxing from the SECC in Glasgow on March 1st, Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla will defend his WBO inter-continental lightweight title against John Simpson, live on Sky Sports.

The show’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, announced the bout shortly after the cancellation of the eagerly anticipated fight between Wadi Camacho and Stephen Simmons when a broken rib had forced the latter to withdraw. It was disappointing news as the boxers had each played their part in fueling the passion of the fight in the build-up with heated exchanges on Twitter and plenty of ill-attitude during face-to-face confrontation.

Crolla will enter hostile ground in front of a partisan crowd looking to put on a ‘Million Dollar’ performance against the rugged and relentless Scotsman and hoping to make a statement to WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns.

In a highly controversial decision, Anthony Crolla (26-4-1,9 KO’s) labored to a 12 round majority over Gavin (37-3-1, 18 KO’s) to grab the vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title at the Bolton Arena, Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom. The judges scores were 115-113 and 116-113 for Crolla, and 115-115 even. This was a really strange fight, because I’ve never seen a fighter get out-landed and outworked as much as I saw Crolla, and yet still win the fight. Talk about your controversial decisions.

It was a very questionable decision in that Rees landed more shots in every round of the fight, was the much busier guy in every round, and landed the cleaner shots. I saw Rees winning almost the rounds. The only rounds I could give Crolla were the 3rd and 11th, and even in those rounds, Rees outlanded him.

Crolla had the crowd in his favor big time in this fight, and the outcome was not surprising. Crolla was getting cheered even when he missing shots; whereas the crowd was deathly silent each time Rees landed, which quite often.

Crolla to put on a ‘Million Dollar’ performance against Simpson

Crolla beats Rees by a controversial decision