Crolla: Win or lose, I won’t hang up gloves
ANTHONY Crolla insists it isn’t win or bust ahead of his showdown with Ricky Burns tonight.
The two boxers are set to go head-to-head in a lightweight bout at the Manchester Arena.
They are both coming off losses in their previous fights, leading to some onlookers claiming the loser may be forced to consider retirement.
Crolla disagrees though, and says he doesn’t have any plans to hang up his gloves any time soon.
“Both of us could have had easier fights and not many people would have took much notice,” he said. “We have this hard fight instead and people say ‘it’s win or lose and retire.’ That’s not what I’m planning.
“A few good wins in boxing and you’re back in contention at world level. So after a win tonight, I’ll be back in the mix,” added the New Moston fighter.
“I genuinely believe I can win a world title again. A loss makes that more difficult, but I believe I’m still improving.”
There is set to be a packed crowd at the Arena tonight, and Crolla admits that when he finally does call it a day, he’ll miss the atmosphere during his fights.
“Without a doubt when I walk away and hang my gloves up that will be what I miss the most,” he said.
“Day in, day out I can go to the gym and keep fit, but I’ll never get that feeling back and I know that. I’ve been lucky enough to experience it so many times, and that will be the hardest thing to let go of.”
Crolla and Burns have been extremely respectful with one another during the build-up, and the Manchester boxer says he wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s nice we can be like that and it saves any little bit of aggro. If somebody wanted to come and shove about then so be it, but 99 per cent of the time it’s just for cameras,” said Crolla.
“We’re both trying to provide for our family.
“We’ll shake hands before the fight and then shake hands after it.” Burns will be fighting in Manchester for the first time in his career, and he is excited about competing in one of the country’s best locations for boxing.
“I’m excited. I know Anthony has a great support up here but I’m the same back home. There will be a few of my lot coming down. The fans are going to win with this fight,” he said.
“The two of us are coming back off losing our world titles and people are saying that the loser is finished but I block that out because it is nonsense.”
We have this hard fight and people say ‘it’s win or lose and retire.’ That’s not what I’m planning
Anthony Crolla