I can defy the odds and beat Linares, Crolla insists
Crolla has focused all his malice into a second contest with Linares, a four-time, three-weight world champion who has been happy enough to return to Manchester to defend the belt he took from Crolla on a unanimous points decision, 114-113, 115-113, 117-111, in September.
Crolla will need a special performance after the first showing, when the Venezuelan overpowered him in periods through the contest, hurting him with a versatile armoury, clever footwork and hand speed. The underdog Mancunian will have to box brilliantly in their second encounter – arguably produce the performance of his life. But he has proved his doubters wrong before.
The winner faces the prospect of a unification contest with World Boxing Council champion Mikey Garcia in Las Vegas this year. The Mexican-American looks to be the best lightweight in the world at present, in spite of a two-year lay-off because of a promotional dispute with promoter Bob Arum.
Returning in January, on the same bill as Carl Frampton’s unsuccessful world title defence against Léo Santa Cruz, Garcia shook off the cobwebs quickly. He looked robust, fast, and dangerous when dealing with renowned puncher Dejan Zlaticanin, ending the night for the man from Montenegro with a brutal uppercut followed by a right hook, which left the defending champion on his back for several minutes and requiring oxygen. It was Garcia’s 30th knockout in an unbeaten 36-fight career.
Crolla, though, is undaunted. “It’s going to be a huge night – I lost a close fight first time out [against Linares] and learnt a lot from it – but if I win, there is the prospect of a Las Vegas trip for my fans and a unification fight,” he said. “Victory over Linares would be the highlight of my career.”
On the undercard, Katie Taylor, Olympic gold medallist and fivetime women’s amateur world champion, makes her fourth appearance since turning professional in late November.
Taylor faces the Bulgarian Milena Koleva in an eight-rounder – women’s boxing has two-minute rounds – and could be challenging for a world title “within two or three fights”, according to promoter Eddie Hearn. Chris Froome moved into second place in the overall standings of the Volta a Catalunya yesterday after a strong performance in stage five. The Team Sky rider followed Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde home over a tough mountain stage in which the Spaniard established an overall lead in the race of 21 seconds. Stephen Hendry’s hopes of a competitive return to the Crucible came to an end when he lost in the semi-finals of the World Seniors Championship. Seven-time world champion Hendry was beaten 3-0 in the semi-finals by Peter Lines. Former England Test captain Alastair Cook has been made available for Essex’s opening three County Championship games of the new season.