Joe Gallagher: Anthony Crolla's injuries are career-threatening

Anthony Crolla's career is in jeopardy following the attack that left him with a fractured skull.

The Manchester lightweight is recovering in hospital after a confrontation with two burglars left him with a fractured skull, cuts to the head and an ankle broken in two places.

Crolla had been preparing for his first world title fight in January, but that challenge for Richar Abril's WBA belt is on hold, and trainer Joe Gallagher told Sky Sports News HQ boxing is off the agenda completely until his fighter makes a complete recovery.

"He's got a fractured skull, stitches and a broken foot in two places," Gallagher said. "First and foremost is that he recovers and gets healthy.

"Boxing? I don't even want to think about that because the injuries he's sustained are career-threatening."

Several high-profile boxing figures have wished Crolla well, and stablemate Paul Smith called him "honestly the nicest lad in this mad game" - a sentiment echoed by Sky Sports's boxing presenter Adam Smith among others.

The 28-year-old was attacked while attempting to apprehend two men who were felling his neighbours' house, and Gallagher said: "That's the nature of the kid. He's such a genuine, down to earth kid and you can tell by the amount of support he's had that Anthony's an amazing human being.

"I asked him 'what were you thinking?' and he said 'My instincts just kicked in. The neighbours' alarm was going off, I went round and shouted, two fellas ran out and it just kicked in and I ran after them'.

"He cornered them and got hold of one, and as the other was trying to jump the wall the concrete slab on the top came off and they whacked Anthony over the head with it. Anthony even joked that he got up from it well."