Anthony Crolla relishing first defence against Ismael Barroso
Wednesday 16 March 2016 11:20, UK
WBA world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla is fired up by suggestions he contemplated ducking Ismael Barroso.
The popular Mancunian (30-4-3-KO12) completed a fairytale in November when he stopped Darleys Perez with a withering fifth-round body shot at the Manchester Arena to win the title.
The following month, Crolla was ringside to watch Barroso (19-0-2-KO18) outgun Kevin Mitchell - also in the fifth - but despite the devastating punch power of the Venezuelan, Crolla has reiterated his enthusiasm over meeting his mandatory challenger.
With the clash now confirmed for May 7 at the Manchester Arena, Crolla said: "When you work for something so hard and so long, the last thing you want to do is give it up. I'd be a fraud if I'd done that when my mandatory is in front of me.
"It's the most dangerous fight of my career, I saw him take Kevin out in London and he did it in impressive fashion. They were confident of winning the fight and they did the job, but I saw things in him that I could capitalise on.
It's the most dangerous fight of my career, I saw him take Kevin out in London and he did it in impressive fashion.
"The suggestion that I would duck him got my back up a bit. When you are champion, you fight the best challengers out there and that's what I see in Barroso.
"I am looking forward to us both putting on a fantastic fight. We know he can bang and that is why everyone avoids him, but I believe I have got the tools to beat him and he's not taking my belt."
The 33-year-old Barroso, who will be fighting on British soil for the second time, issued a stern warning of his own.
He said: "My fight with Kevin was good but this will be better. You will see two great fighters, and I know Anthony is an excellent champion, but I will take the belt to Venezuela."
Also on the May 7 card will be former world title challenger Martin Murray, Hosea Burton defending his British light-heavyweight title for the first time and the return of lightweight Tommy Coyle.
