That may be why Crolla has forgiven his attackers. Here’s a recap of what went down.
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The fans inside Manchester Arena could not believe their ears when the judges’ scorecards when read out after Perez was deducted a point in the 11th and 12th rounds for low blows.
But in the chase one of the thieves cracked the boxer with a paving slab and he was left with a fractured skull as well as a broken ankle in the fall.
Anthony Crolla was frustrated by the judges as his WBA world lightweight title fight against Darleys Perez was ruled a draw. It certainly adds to the Cinderella story from where I was seven months ago.
“Crolla was just sharpening up ahead of Saturday’s fight”.
“I’m disappointed because I wanted this world title so much, but we’ll go again”.
He also made a vow to keep plugging away in his mission to win a world title at home. “When this came up, there was no way I was going to turn it down”, he said.
“I proved tonight I can mix it at world level, and I’m only going to get better”. He followed up that win with two successful title defenses, the most recent coming in January against Jonathan Maicelo. “In Manchester. There’s nowhere else I’d rather do it”. With the two-point deductions, I don’t see how you can’t give that fight to Anthony Crolla.
“Two lads from Manchester both world champions at the same time, it’ll be a fantastic achievement”. That’s honestly what I believe.
The Thompson Boxing team caught up with the Colombian native and got his thoughts on his upcoming world title defense.
Asked if he would pursue a formal protest with the WBA, Hearn admitted that the fight was competitive enough that he couldn’t see going that route.
“I need a career-best performance on Saturday night to win”, Crolla said.
“If Anthony Crolla wins as well as Scott Quigg against Kiko Martinez then that’s an unbelievable night that’s never been done before”, he said.
Perez (32-1-1, 20 KO) can count himself lucky that he leaves with his belt, and could find himself back in the ring for a rematch with Crolla before long. I expected to be an inch or so bigger than him but I think he had higher shoes on than me so maybe Im bigger than him than I thought but hes got the look of somebody whos fit and well prepared.
It was not to be but it was a triumph in itself that Crolla was in the ring at all last night. But it wasn’t to be on this night. Quigg dropped Martinez twice in round two and the bout was waved off.
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Quigg’s WBA World Super Bantamweight defence against Martinez comes before Crolla’s fight and while the unbeaten Bury star knows it’s the hardest fight of his career, he is desperate for his mate to land the World title after him.
