Anthony Crolla
Anthony Crolla is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2019. He held the WBA lightweight title from 2015 to 2016.
Professional career
Early career
Crolla made his professional debut on 14 October 2006 when he scored a points win over Abdul Rashid at the MEN Arena in Manchester. 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. 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. 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.Career from 2009 to 2011
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. 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. 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.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. 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." On 16 March, Crolla vs. Gavin Rees was added to the Amir Khan-Paul McCloskey WBA title fight undercard on 16 April at the MEN Arena in Manchester. Rees pulled out of the fight on 24 March due to a nose injury.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 four seconds remaining in the 6th round.
Prizefighter
In September 2012, Crolla entered the Prize-Fighter Series for lightweights. The tournament took place on 6 October at the Liverpool Olympia. Entering the tournament, Crolla was the favourite to win. A day earlier it was announced that Crolla would fight Stephen Jennings in the quarter finals. Crolla won the fight after 3 rounds 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. Sykes went on to lose to Terry Flanagan in the final.Crolla vs. 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 had a brain injury during the contest and would no longer be able to box.Career from 2013 to 2014
Crolla vs. Matthews II
A rematch between Crolla and Matthews took place on 30 March 2013. The fight ended in draw, with one judge scoring the fight 115-115, whilst the remaining two gave Crolla and Matthews 115-113 apiece. Crolla started the fight very cautious and allowed Matthews to score without much reply. The middle rounds were closer and Crolla took the later rounds.WBO Inter-Continental title
On 30 June 2013, Crolla upset former WBA light-welterweight champion Gavin Rees with a majority decision at the Bolton Arena in Bolton. The judges scored it 115-113 and 116–113 to Crolla, with one scoring it 115-115. The fight was scheduled to take place on the undercard of David Haye vs. Manuel Charr, but that fight was called of when Haye had a hand injury.Crolla was scheduled to make his first defence of the title on the undercard of Carl Froch vs. George Groves at the Phones 4u Arena in Manchester against former WBU and European super featherweight champion Stephen Foster Jr. on 23 November 2013. Foster was a late step in, as originally, Crolla was due to fight Martin Gethin for the British title. Foster was due to fight Michael Katsidis in Australia, but pulled out to fight Crolla in his hometown instead. Foster took a beating, retiring on his stool after six rounds, giving Crolla the stoppage win. Crolla returned to the Phones 4u Arena on 19 April 2014 against British boxer John Murray. The fight was billed as the 'Battle of Manchester'. It was known that Crolla and Murray former gym pals and friends outside of the ring. Crolla won the fight via a 10th round stoppage, in a brutal fight. After the fight, Crolla told Sky Sports, "It was even tougher than I expected. No matter how tough that looked, me and John were the luckiest men in this arena." Murray admitted the best man won.
Crolla made his third and final defence on 13 September against Mexican boxer Gamaliel Díaz at the Phones 4u Arena. In the third round, following an accidental clash of heads, Díaz was left with a bad cut over the eye and not able to continue. The fight was ruled a technical draw after the round. Crolla was unsure whether Díaz had the desire to continue. He told Sky Sports, "I'm not speaking bad of Gamaliel Díaz. It's a technical draw, the doctor ruled he was unable to continue, but I felt like he was happy with that." Promoter Eddie Hearn later went on to say, "I'll speak to the doctor because if the fighter chooses not to continue then I don't believe it's a technical draw. If the referee stops the fight on the advice of the doctor then it is a technical draw, but it looked like he didn't want to come out. I think he was happy to accept the technical draw."
World title cancellation
Crolla was scheduled to fight Richar Abril of Cuba for the WBA lightweight title in January 2015.This fight was cancelled after Crolla suffered a broken ankle and a fractured skull during a burglary. 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. Derry Matthews was picked to replace Crolla, but instead fought Tony Luis, who took the fight on four days notice, winning the interim WBA lightweight title.
WBA lightweight champion
Crolla vs. Pérez I, II
Crolla received his first opportunity at a world title against WBA lightweight champion Darleys Pérez on 18 July 2015 at the Manchester Arena in Manchester. The fight ended in a controversial split decision draw. Crolla seemed like the clear winner after Pérez twice had pointed deducted for low blows. One judge had the fight 116-111 for Crolla, the other two judges scored it a 113–113 draw. In the post fight, Crolla told Sky Sports, "I'm bitterly disappointed I've not got the world title take to home with me. I thought the deductions swayed it for me."A day later, promoter Eddie Hearn stated that he would speak to the WBA to get an immediate rematch ordered. Hearn believed Crolla by at least four rounds and his trainer Joe Gallagher saw him win by two rounds. Hearn told Sky Sports, "I've emailed the WBA complaining about the points decision and asking for an immediate rematch. If there were two points deducted how could they have given the fight to Perez by two rounds? No way."
On 30 July 2015, the WBA officially ordered the rematch between Crolla and Pérez. Hearn announced the fight would take place on 21 November at the Manchester Arena. Crolla won the WBA title with a knockout win over Pérez in round 5. The punch which dropped Pérez was a left hook to the body. He was unable to beat the count. Crolla told Sky Sports, "I've dreamt this dream since I was 10 years of age. I didn't know it would be this good, honestly. It's even better than I dreamt."