Crolla suited by underdog label

FIST TO FIST . . . Anthony Crolla (left) and Darleys Perez are focused on tomorrow’s showdown at the Manchester Arena.

ANTHONY Crolla has no problem with people who continue to dismiss his chances of wrestling the WBA world lightweight title from Darleys Perez’s grasp tomorrow night.

Chadderton-based Crolla (28) will finally achieve his lifetime ambition of fighting for boxing’s ultimate prize, but many believe that is as far as the fairytale will go.

Undoubtedly Crolla faces the task of his life in trying to dethrone tough-as-teak Colombian Perez at the Manchester Arena, but he was as cool as ever at the ‘High Stakes’ final press conference.

Asked about his prospects now that his much-hyped and first bid for world title glory is just hours away, Crolla told the Chronicle: “It’s just the weigh-in now, then fight night — a night I’ve waited for my whole life.

PERFORMANCES

“I know I’m the underdog, but that doesn’t play on my mind at all — I’d say it works for me to be honest.

“All my best performances in the past have come when I was an underdog, and I don’t believe it’ll be any different tomorrow.

“This kind of mindset brings the best out of me, and of course there’s less pressure on me.

“I know there’s huge expectation, with the whole city on my shoulders urging me on to win, and that’s all I'm really bothered about.

“I just don’t want to let down all those people.

“Maybe after the weigh-in I’ll start feeling a few butterflies, but as for right now, I feel very relaxed.

“I’m confident, and I’ve trained well, and they say that the harder you’ve trained the more confident you feel.

“I’m in a good place right now.”

Crolla acknowledges once again that he’s going to have to be at his very best to be in with a chance of shocking former Olympian Perez.

The two came face-to-face for the first time at the packed press conference.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen him and he looks in good shape,” added ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla.

“But then again I wouldn't expect anything different.

“You can see he’s a very fit lad and he says he’s had a fantastic camp, but that’s just like myself.

“You’re going to see the best Darleys Perez and the best Anthony Crolla.

“There’s no bad blood between us or anything, it's just business now."

Big-time promoter Eddie Hearn is expecting fireworks at ‘High Stakes’ tomorrow night.

As well as the Crolla-Perez set-to, Bury’s Scott Quigg takes on Spanish pocket dynamo Kiko Martinez for the WBA world super-bantamweight crown, while there are also two British title fights on the bill and the return of St Helens super-middleweight star Martin Murray, among many others.

Hearn said: "There will be between 12 and 15,000 fans packed into the Arena and the buzz in the city is definitely back.

buzz

“Not since the Carl Froch-George Groves fight at Wembley have I seen such a buzz in a big city.

“Perez is a really tough opponent for Anthony Crolla and he certainly won’t be intimidated by the atmosphere, but I expect Manchester to have been celebrating a big world title win on Sunday morning.”