Anthony Crolla targeted by WBA mandatory challenger Ismael Barroso
Wednesday 13 January 2016 19:10, UK
Ismael Barroso's promoter is keen to begin talks over the Venezuelan's mandatory shot at WBA world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla.
Barroso (19-0-2-KO18) stopped Kevin Mitchell in the fifth round of a world title eliminator in December - booking a shot at Manchester's Crolla (30-4-3-KO12), who watched on from ringside.
Barroso's promoter George Cohen told World Boxing News: "Although substantive talks have not begun between Ismael Barroso and Anthony Crolla for their world lightweight title fight, I expect to speak with Eddie Hearn in the next few days about making the fight."
Crolla, who said after the fight that he would not be intimidated by the heavy-handed southpaw, was named Most Inspirational Fighter of 2015 by Ring Magazine.
The 29-year-old saw his first shot at world honours called off after he sustained a fractured skull and broken ankle when confronting burglars in late 2014, but he regained fitness ahead of schedule.
Crolla was denied by some controversial scoring when he faced Darleys Perez in July 2015 but he erased the disappointment of that majority draw when he stopped the Colombian in the fifth round of November's rematch.
