Crolla deserves BBC nomination

PRIDE OF MANCHESTER ANTHONY CROLLA

TRAINER Joe Gallagher believes his newly-crowned WBA World lightweight champion Anthony Crolla should be a candidate for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award.

Chadderton-based Crolla (29) secured his dream title when he stopped Colombian tough guy Darleys Perez in the fifth round at a packed-out Manchester Arena.

The dramatic win for ‘Million Dollar’ came less than 12 months after his fight career was almost ended when he suffered horrific head and ankle injuries after being attacked by would-be burglars at his neighbour’s home.

At that point just before Christmas, with Crolla laid up in a hospital bed in Oldham, it looked a long road back. Any world title hopes must have appeared distant, if not non-existent.

However, after a controversial draw with Perez in July, the rematch was emphatically won on Saturday, leaving Gallagher to offer the BBC a nudge towards his man.

“What a success story for UK sport Anthony has been these last 12 months,” said Gallagher, who now trains three world champions – Crolla, Scott Quigg and Liam Smith – at his Bolton gym.

“His career looked to be finished, he didn’t think he was ever going to box again, but here he is, a world champion.

“That’s a great story not just for boxing in 2015, but for UK sport as a whole.

“I know there’s awards for team sports from the BBC, but he really ought to be nominated for the Sports Personality of the Year award.

“For what this man has done after all what he’s been though, it really is a fantastic story. I can’t be any prouder of him.”

Gallagher has certainly played a major role in transforming Crolla’s fortunes over the last three years.

After losing to Gary Sykes in the Prizefighter tournament in October, 2012 – a second defeat in three bouts – Crolla then faced a make-or break English title showdown against Kieran Farrell at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Trafford Park.

He won, but only thanks to a points decision after 10 gruelling rounds.

“I owe massive thanks to Joe,” acknowledged Crolla.

“He’s turned my career around and totally changed my life.

“He gets a lot of stick from different people for things he might say, but all he cares about is his fighters.

“He took me on when a lot of people had given up on me, and he’s changed people’s opinions

“After Prizefighter I was at a crossroads ahead of the Farrell fight.

“If I’d have lost that I was going into work on the Monday morning.

“That night I was fighting for my career in an ice cold warehouse, but I managed to tough it out and and now I’m sat here as a world champion.”