Joe Gallagher is backing Anthony Crolla to come good against Kieran Farrell next month
Anthony Crolla will be looking to climb back into the British title picture when he faces Kieran Farrell next month.
By Adam Norman: Twitter @SkySportsNorm
Last Updated: 12/11/12 2:03pm
The popular 25-year-old came into 2012 as British lightweight champion but a devastating loss to Derry Matthews was followed by defeat to Gary Sykes in the semi-finals of Prizefighter.
Trainer Joe Gallagher is backing Crolla to bounce back quickly but climbing back up the rankings will not be easy in a competitive division.
But by taking on the hungry Farrell (14-0) for the vacant English belt 'Million Dollar' is not taking the easy route.
"Anthony took it with both hands, he wants to get back in the British title picture," Gallagher told Sky Sports. "By beating Farrell he'll be an English champion at two weights and could give him a chance of fighting mandatory Martin Gethin for the vacant belt if Gavin Rees decides to give it up."
Attitude
Crolla now has four losses on his CV but Gallagher believes promoters and fans alike want to see competitive shows regardless of fighters' records.
"Anthony came to me on the loss of Gary Sykes years ago and people were saying that he wouldn't go anywhere, but went on to prove a lot," he added.
"It's changing over here now - we're getting an American attitude that as long as a kid can fight that's all that matters and Anthony Crolla can fight, and that's what people want to see."
Crolla briefly campaigned at super-featherweight earlier in his career, winning the English title in 2010, and his trainer admitted a drop back down to 130lb is not out of the question.
"There was an opportunity to fight for a British title at lightweight and we took it, but it's always an option for us to revisit (super-featherweight).
"An opportunity to fight for the English title has presented itself now and he's fighting Kieren Farrell.
"You've got to remember when he was knocking down John Watson who's a fully-blown lightweight, and also when he won every round against Willie Limond those questions (about Crolla's size) weren't being asked.
"He'll be back."
