On top of the world

ANTHONY CROLLA CELEBRATES IN THE DRESSING ROOM

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BOXING hero Anthony Crolla never gave up on his dream of eventually becoming a world champion.

Chadderton-based Crolla (29) became the king of the world on Saturday for the first time when he secured the WBA lightweight prize in devastating fashion.

He stopped previous title holder, Colombian Darleys Perez, with a bone-crunching body shot after two minutes and 30 seconds of the fifth round at a rocking Manchester Arena.

After overcoming horrific skull and ankle injuries last Christmas following an altercation with would-be burglars at a neighbour’s home, and then seeing a first fight with Perez being controversially declared a draw in the summer, Crolla could have been forgiven for fearing whether his long-held dream would ever be realised.

But once the rematch had been swiftly ordered following July's disappointment, Crolla knuckled down harder than ever before in his 36-fight career, and he has now come up trumps.

Crolla said: “I never lost hope that I would eventually win a world title.

“I felt stronger than Darleys this time, and as the fight was going on I was feeling more and more confident I’d get him out of there early.

“I knew body shots would do the damage, and that one at the end is one that I think Ricky Hatton would have been proud of. I knew I had hurt him.

“I said after what happened at Christmas that I would come back. I made a promise to myself because I realised how close I was to everything being taken away from me.

“I didn’t take that extra five minutes in bed, I didn’t hit the snooze button. When the alarm has been going off I get straight up out of bed.

“It’s all been worth it now.

“I came into this sport for just two reasons — to win a world title and to get my house paid off.

“I think I’ll be able to do that now.

“Hopefully more big fights will follow now, and with that comes the big pay days.”

Certainly some big title defences follow now for ‘Million Dollar’, and a probable date at his beloved Old Trafford next year, according to his big-time promoter Eddie Hearn.

The Matchroom Boxing supremo said: “I want to make sure Anthony sets himself up for life now, and that’s not just him, but his kids, and their kids.

“The way to do that is to get him a huge stadium fight. Certainly we’ll get him and his trainer Joe Gallagher the biggest fights possible now.

“Maybe we’ll get him out for a defence in March or April, and then book a stadium fight.

“I think he would fill Old Trafford. He’s a true Manchester United fan and Manchester is going to go mad for Anthony Crolla.

“He deserves this success so much. He might talk about paying off mortgages, let’s just say I can't wait to see his new house.

“All this is fantastic, but now it’s about setting up his future and his family and even the generation after that.”

Crolla, his partner Fran and toddler son Jesse will now take some time out before a return to the ring in the New Year.

Potential next opponents next could be Venezuelan WBC king Jorge Linares, fellow Manchester star and WBO champion Terry Flanagan, or former WBC title challenger Kevin Mitchell.