Jorge “El Niño de Oro” Linares (42-3, 27 KOs) skillfully defeated former champion Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla (31-6, 15 KOs) to retain his WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship titles in a 12-round rematch battle that went the distance live from Manchester Arena. Showtime International Boxing will replay Linares vs. Crolla II tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO Extreme.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig
Manchester Arena in England will be jam-packed again for a rematch from an entertaining dust-up between Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla this Saturday. In the states Showtime, currently leaving HBO in the dust, will be the broadcaster of this lightweight showdown in the afternoon. The big question heading into this rematch is what if anything can Crolla do differently?
WBA Lightweight World Champion Jorge Linares and his British counterpart Anthony Crolla both weighed in at 134 ½ pounds for their lightweight title rematch tomorrow/Saturday, March 25 at Manchester Arena live on SHOWTIME® (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT).
The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® presentation originates from New York City with WBC Lightweight World Champion Mikey Garcia serving as guest analyst alongside host Brian Custer and analysts Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi.
Returning to the Manchester Arena for part two of the highly anticipated rematch for the WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship on Saturday, March 25, both current Champion Jorge “El Niño de Oro” Linares (41-3, 27 KOs) and former champion Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla (31-5, 15 KOs) have vowed to come back into the ring at full force, ready to take home the belts both fighters claim belong to them. Linares vs. Crolla II will be live from Manchester Arena in Manchester, England and available to U.S. fans on Showtime, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT.
WBA Lightweight World Champion Jorge Linares and former champion Anthony Crolla participated in a public workout at National Football Museum in Manchester, England on Tuesday in preparation for their rematch this Saturday, live on SHOWTIME (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT) from Manchester Arena.
Linares (41-3, 27 KOs) dethroned Crolla (31-5-3, 13 KOs) in an action-packed battle last September in Manchester to capture the WBA crown. Crolla and Linares were neck-and-neck going into the sixth round until Linares rocked the hometown favorite with a series of shots that galvanized the Venezuelan toward a close 115-114, 115-113 and 117-111 unanimous decision.
WBA Lightweight World Champion Jorge Linares and former titlist Anthony Crolla held a press conference on Tuesday in Manchester, England, to formally announce their upcoming rematch on Saturday, March 25 live on SHOWTIME from Manchester Arena.
Linares (41-3, 27 KOs) narrowly outpointed defending champion Crolla (31-5-3, 13 KOs) last September in a thrilling battle in Crolla’s hometown of Manchester.
Anthony Crolla will meet Jorge Linares in a rematch for the WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring magazine World Lightweight titles at the Manchester Arena on March 25, live on Sky Sports and sponsored by Betfred.
Crolla and Linares met in the same venue for the belts in September with the Venezuelan coming out on top in an enthralling contest, ending the brilliant winning run of ‘Million Dollar’ who claimed the title with a stoppage win over Darleys Perez in November 2015 before destroying dangerous Ismael Barroso in May.
By Mauricio Sulaiman – WBC President – Jose Sulaiman’s son – After a memorable month of September in which boxing provided tremendous fights all over the world, we can only look towards the future and expect to see those special fights be made a reality, because that is what the fans of this great sport deserve. The fans must get what boxing can provide. I trust all involved parties will work together and make then happen.
Two classy lightweights put on a quality fight last night, as Jorge Linares won a close but unanimous decision over Anthony Crolla. The Venezuelan took the Manchester man’s WBA belt, becoming a three-weight champion in the process. Crolla, taking the biggest fight, against the most talented fighter of his career, made it close, but Linares was just too good. But there is a rematch clause in place and promoter Eddie Hearn says he fully expects the two excellent fighters to meet again.
The newly crowned WBC Diamond, WBA, Ring Magazine and Lineal Lightweight World Champion Jorge “El Niño de Oro” Linares (41-3, 27 KOs) defeated Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) in a huge unification blockbuster at the Manchester Arena on September 24, 2016, live on Sky Sports. After a bout going all twelve rounds with both Linares and Crolla fighting resiliently until the end, the judges announced their scores of 115-114, 117-111, 115-113 all awarding Jorge Linares the unanimous decision victory.