Anthony Crolla

Anthony Crolla (born 16 November 1986) is a British professional boxer who has fought in the super featherweight and lightweight divisions. He is the current WBA lightweight champion.^[1] He won the English super featherweight title in October 2010 with a victory over Andy Morris^[2] and the British lightweight title in February 2011 with a win against John Watson.^[2]

Professional career

Early professional career

Crolla made his professional contest on 14 October 2006 when he scored a points win over Abdul Rashid at the MEN Arena in Manchester.^[2] Five more fights throughout the rest of the year and into 2007 resulted in five more victories giving Crolla an unbeaten record of 6–0 at the end of his first full year as a professional.^[2] Crolla begun 2008 with a win in Germany on 19 January beating Tomasz Kwiecien and followed this up with another victory on 14 March, traveling to the Old Trafford Stadium to beat journeyman Steve Gethin. On 5 April however, in his third fight of the year so far, Crolla lost his unbeaten record to Syrian Youssef Al Hamidi at the Bolton Arena, losing on points over 8 rounds.^[3] Two fights in September resulted in Crolla returning to winning ways against Robin Deakin on the 6th and then traveling to the York Hall in Bethnal Green on the 26th to meet Al Hamidi once more and to gain a revenge win over six rounds. Crolla finished 2008 with further victories over Carl Allen in October and Jon Baguley in December finishing the year with a record of 12–1.^[2]

Fights with Sykes, Brodie and Morris

Crolla begun 2009 on 14 March with a repeat victory over former opponent Carl Allen and then on 29 May took part in his most significant bout to date, a British title eliminator at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke. The fight resulted in a second career defeat for Crolla as he lost a ten round points decision to Gary Sykes.^[2][4] On 25 September he returned to ring and scored another victory over an opponent he had already met, Jon Baguley and then on 27 November met and defeated the former world champion Michael Brodie who had returned to the ring following a long lay off.^[2][4] He continued his winning run in 2010 with victories over Jason Nesbitt, Sid Razak and Chris Riley before on 2 October challenging Andy Morris for the English super featherweight title. The fight at the De Vere Whites hotel in Bolton resulted in a 7th round stoppage for Crolla and a first career title.^[2][5]

British lightweight champion

Crolla stepped up a weight division when on 12 February 2011 he challenged John Watson for the vacant British lightweight title. Described as an "early contender for fight of the year" Crolla won the fight in the 9th round after scoring a 9th round knockout.^[6] Describing his move up a weight division after the fight Crolla said "I knew I’d be strong enough at lightweight, but I didn’t know I’d be that strong. I’m in with strong kids in the gym all the time and they say my strength is underrated. But even I couldn’t believe how strong I was."^[6] On 21 April 2012 Crolla lost his British Lightweight Title to 28-year-old Liverpudlian Derry Matthews at the Oldham Sports Centre. Matthews knocked Crolla down in the 3rd round, and the fight was eventually stopped with 4 seconds remaining in the 6th round.

Prize Fighter

In September 2012 Crolla entered the Prize Fighter tournament beating Stephen Jennings in the quarter finals in what many felt was the best display of the night. Crolla reached the semi-final stage, losing a very close points decision that could have gone either way to Gary Sykes.

Fight with Kieran Farrell

Kieran Farrell was at the time a young up and coming prospect that had beaten the 14 opponents put before him. His new promoter Dave Coldwell fancied his fighters chances against Crolla, feeling he may be on the slide. Crolla beat Farrell; just after the final bell Farrell collapsed and was rushed to hospital. He had suffered a brain injury during the contest and will no longer be able to box.

Matthews 'The Rematch'

The rematch took place and the fight ended in what was as clear a draw as you could expect. The fight started with Crolla being very cautious and allowing Matthews to score without much reply. The middle rounds were closer and Crolla took the later rounds.

WBO inter-continental lightweight title

On 30 June 2013, Crolla beat former WBA light-welterweight world champion Gavin Rees with a majority decision at the Bolton Arena.

World Title Cancellation

Crolla was scheduled to fight Richar Abril of Cuba for the WBA world lightweight title in January 2015.^[7]

This fight was cancelled after Crolla suffered a broken ankle and a fractured skull during a burglary.^[8] Crolla confronted two burglars who were raiding a neighbour’s house. Crolla was able to catch one of the intruders, but was then attacked by the other with a lump of concrete.^[9]

World Champion

Crolla was crowned world champion when he defeated WBA lightweight champion Darleys Perez with a fifth round stoppage. The stoppage came after a bodyshot crumpled Perez to the canvas.^[10] This was a rematch after their first fight ended in a controversial draw in July 2015.^[11]

Professional record

30 Wins (12 knockouts), 4 Defeats (1 knockout), 3 Draws
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
Win	30-4-3	Darleys Pérez	KO	5 (12), 2:30	2015-11-21	Manchester Arena, Manchester	Won WBA Lightweight title.
Draw	29-4-3	Darleys Pérez	MD	12	2015-07-18	Manchester Arena, Manchester	For WBA Lightweight title.
Win	29-4-2	Gyorgy Mizsei, Jr.	PTS	6	2014-11-15	3Arena, Dublin
Draw	28-4-2	Gamaliel Díaz	TD	3 (12), 3:00	2014-09-13	Manchester Arena, Manchester	Retained WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title.
Win	28-4-1	John Murray	TKO	10 (12), 2:20	2014-04-19	Phones 4u Arena, Manchester	Retained WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title.
Win	27-4-1	Stephen Foster, Jr.	RTD	6 (12), 3:00	2013-11-23	Phones 4u Arena, Manchester	Retained WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title.
Win	26-4-1	Gavin Rees	MD	12	2013-06-28	Bolton Arena, Bolton	Won WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title.
Draw	25-4-1	Derry Mathews	SD	12	2013-03-30	Echo Arena, Liverpool	For vacant Commonwealth Lightweight title.
Win	25-4	Kieran Farrell	UD	10	2012-12-07	Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester	Won English Lightweight title.
Loss	24-4	Gary Sykes	SD	3	2012-10-06	Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool	Lost Prizefighter Lightweight semi-final.
Won	24-3	Stephen Jennings	UD	3	2012-10-06	Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool	Won Prizefighter Lightweight quarter final.
Loss	23-3	Derry Mathews	TKO	6 (12), 2:57	2012-04-21	Oldham Sports Centre, Oldham	Lost British Lightweight title.
Win	23-2	Willie Limond	UD	12	2011-11-25	Ravenscraig Sports Centre, Motherwell	Retained British Lightweight title.
Win	22-2	Juan Montiel	SD	8	2011-09-17	MGM Grand Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	21-2	Herve De Luca	TKO	1 (10), 2:59	2011-06-18	Robin Park Arena, Wigan
Win	20-2	John Watson	TKO	9 (12), 2:35	2011-02-12	Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool	Won vacant British Lightweight title.

References

1. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/22373483
2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Anthony Crolla professional record. Boxrec. Retrieved on 2012-11-19.
3. ↑ Mathews and Crolla both defeated. Livefight (2008-04-05). Retrieved on 2012-11-19.
4. 1 2 Crolla back on track. Boxingnewsonline.net. Retrieved on 2012-11-19.
5. ↑ Manchester Evening News | Foster Jnr, Crolla back on top. Menmedia.co.uk (2010-10-04). Retrieved on 2012-11-19.
6. 1 2 Manchester Evening News | Anthony Crolla defeats John Watson to land British title. Menmedia.co.uk (2011-02-14). Retrieved on 2012-11-19.
7. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/30072133 | Manchester's Anthony Crolla is to fight for the world lightweight title]. BBC (2014-11-16). Retrieved on 2015-11-29.
8. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/30509558 | Anthony Crolla: Boxer 'lucky to be alive' after burglar attack]. BBC (2014-12-17). Retrieved on 2015-11-29.
9. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/dec/16/anthony-crolla-head-injuries-burglars | Anthony Crolla in hospital after confronting burglars ]. The Guardian (2014-12-16). Retrieved on 2015-11-29.
10. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-3328827/Anthony-Crolla-fulfils-boyhood-dream-world-title-win-stunning-fifth-round-knockout-Darleys-Perez-Manchester.html| Anthony Crolla fulfils boyhood dream of world title win with stunning fifth-round knockout of Darleys Perez in Manchester ]. The Daily Mail (2015-11-22). Retrieved on 2015-11-29.
11. ↑ http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/boxing/anthony-crolla-crowned-world-champion-10481697 | Anthony Crolla crowned world champion after stopping Darleys Perez to win WBA lightweight title in rematch ]. Manchester Evening News (2015-11-22). Retrieved on 2015-11-29.

External links