Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CROLLA: I'LL BE VAS KRYPTONITE
ANTHONY CROLLA has promised to provide the Kryptonite that will break down boxing’s Superman on Hollywood’s doorstep in seven weeks’ time.
The 32-year-old Manchester fighter learned last week he will get his shot at Vasiliy Lomachenko, the man many believe to be the pound-for-pound world champion, on April 12.
The pair will meet in Los Angeles, where Lomachenko, 31, was due to be fighting a lightweight unification bout until the IBF champion Richard Commey was forced out with a hand injury.
That has opened the door for Crolla, the mandatory challenger for Lomachenko’s WBA belt.
The Ukrainian’s WBO crown and Ring magazine title are also on the line.
Double Olympic champion Lomachenko made history as an amateur with a record of 396-1 and is a two-weight world champion despite only 13 pro fights.
But Crolla said: “Everyone has their Kryptonite, no man is invincible – that only exists in the movies.
“Early on in his professional career he lost, but he has improved greatly since then. He was a little bit unlucky that night too, he got hit low all night.
“But in his last two fights he had great success. One of them was against Jorge Linares, who I lost to twice.
“But if I go in there with the right game-plan and mentally in a brilliant place, which I will be, then I’m a very live underdog.”
This will be Crolla’s third shot at the Ring’s lightweight title. He added: “It’s the most prestigious belt in the sport and I’m getting a third crack at it. Not many people earn one.
“It’ll come down to who wants it more – and THAT is something I will beat him at.”
Asked if he has allowed himself to dream of what he will do next if he becomes world champion, Crolla laughed and said: “I’ll probably do the honourable thing and give him a rematch.
“I’ve been imagining and focusing on that belief in winning ever since the fight has been talked about, and I’ve been going over in my head how I will do it.
“These are the kind of fights you wait around for and hope for.”