Hero Crolla 66-1 to scoop BBC award

CHADDERTON-based boxing star Anthony Crolla is enjoying celebrity status following his world lightweight championship heroics at the weekend.

And, given the much-publicised and incredible story behind Crolla’s rise to the fight game’s pinnacle, there has been talk of him being nominated for the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year award.

Crolla is currently the ninth favourite to win one of sport’s most prestigious prizes. He can be backed at 66-1, which is 14 points shorter than the price of fellow British boxer Tyson Fury, who takes on Wladimir Klitschko for the world heavyweight title in Germany on Saturday.

Jessica Ennis-Hill, who regained her world heptathlon title in 2015, is hugely popular with the public and, not surprisingly, is the 8-11 favourite to win SPOTY.

Andy Murray, although without a grand slam title this year, is second favourite at 11-2, which is understandable given his role in Britain’s charge to the Davis Cup final.

Lewis Hamilton, who has retained his F1 world title this year, is 13-2, followed by Tour de France winner Chris Froome (16-1) and England’s all-time leading goalscorer, Wayne Rooney (25-1).

n TWO events mentioned above are high on the weekend’s sporting menu.

The Davis Cup final in Ghent, Belgium – which starts on Friday and finishes on Sunday – sees Britain take on the hosts whom they are expected to beat, thanks mainly to the presence of talisman Andy Murray.

GB are 100-30 ON to lift the cup, with the hosts 3-1.

As for the world heavyweight clash, reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko is 1-4 to retain his title, with Fury 4-1 to take it off him.

The champion is even money to win by stoppage and 11-5 to prevail on points.

The latter price interests me as Klitschko is a pragmatic boxer who takes few risks and is happy to leave it to the judges.

Fury is 7-1 to win by stoppage (his only chance in my view) and 9-1 on points.

n LOCAL snooker star Michael Wild is 6-1 to beat Dominic Dale, his first-round opponent, in the Betway UK Snooker Championship in York tomorrow. Dale is 6-1 ON to win the first-to-six-frames matches.

RECOMMENDATION: Wladimir Klitschko to beat Tyson Fury on points, 11-5 (Stan James).