The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
No risk to legacies insists Crolla ahead of fight
Anthony Crolla has dismissed suggestions he and Ricky Burns are risking their legacies when they fight at the Manchester Arena tonight.
Each have had fine careers in which they have won world titles at lightweight – Burns was also a champion at the weight below and above– but the loser could struggle to recover from what would be their latest defeat.
Crolla has lost his last two fights, both to reigning WBA champion Jorge Linares, and a third in succession at the age of 30 would likely prove difficult to overcome. Burns also lost his most recent fight, to Julius Indongo, and at 34, like Crolla, hopes to avoid the seventh loss of his career.
The winner tonight could yet challenge again for world honours even if the loser would have few prospects, but Crolla said: “I don’t believe we’re putting our legacies on the line. We’ve both boxed top fighters.
“He’s been in with boxing royalty; he’s had a great career.
“He wants to win another world title and so do I.”
Another potential concern for Burns is that he is dropping down in weight and that few fighters have succeeded in doing so during the final stages of their careers.
Burns revealed his trainer Tony Sims was unhappy at the prospect.
“Tony wasn’t too keen on it but I know that I can do it properly and winning this fight can lead to bigger things,” he said.