Anthony Crolla beats Darlys Perez to win WBA lightweight title

Anthony Crolla has said that becoming a world champion feels “better than a dream” after beating Darleys Perez to clinch the WBA lightweight title in Manchester on Saturday night.

Crolla already missed his first attempt to become a world champion following the fractured skull and broken ankle he sustained chasing burglars at the end of previous year.

ANTHONY Crolla’s multi award-winning trainer Joe Gallagher has total faith in his charge ahead of tomorrow’s big World title rematch at the Manchester Arena.

“I’ve dreamed this dream since I was 10”. “I was thankful to have this world title shot and take it like this”.

There was little to separate the two fighters until Crolla’s magical moment – with the punishing left taking the wind out of Perez’s sails.

Perez shook as his head as he fell to the canvas, remaining on his knees as the 10-count was completed, sealing only his second defeat after 32 wins and a draw. “I was saving my pocket money coming here to watch Joe Calzaghe, Naseem Hamed and our own Ricky Hatton, and there is nowhere better to do it. If Terry Flanagan (the WBO lightweight champion) wants the fight, and politics can be put to one side, it would be a huge fight”.

“Barroso is a strong southpaw with power in both hands, but I am confident that I can smother that threat, impose my skills on him and get the win on another great night at The O2. I do remember touching him up top with a right and then bringing the left in downstairs, and like most people when they land a good body shot I knew it was over there and then”.

“I thought that Anthony won the first fight with Perez”.