World title dream lives on for Crolla

TIME OUT . . . Anthony Crolla takes a break following a training run in Griffith Park, Hollywood.

Boxing: ANTHONY Crolla’s dream of winning a world title in Manchester remains firmly on.

Now based in Chadderton, Crolla (27) is working his way back to big-fight sharpness after a freak injury in training forced him to pull out of a scheduled bout against John Simpson in Glasgow.

New Moston-raised Crolla – who trains with Joe Gallagher and his stable of champions at his gym in Bolton – was in his final week of sparring ahead of the Simpson clash when a cut over his eye had to be stitched.

The former British and Commonwealth lightweight champion and current WBO inter-continental king has now targeted a return at a Manchester Arena show on April 19, after which the former Fox ABC amateur star could have new WBO world champ Terence Crawford in his sights.

Crolla said: “Picking up the injury was really disappointing. I’d been in Los Angeles in January with Joe and some of the other lads from the gym, getting in some great sparring, and I was really flying.

“But I just kopped for one in training and things have had to be put on hold for a little while.

“I’ve got to stay positive, though. I’ll be okay for the April 19 show in Manchester and that’s the sole aim.”