Anthony Crolla is hoping for a rematch with Derry Matthews after losing his British title to the Liverpudlian on Saturday night.
Former champion hoping for a chance to regain belt
Anthony Crolla is hoping for a British title rematch with Derry Matthews after losing the Lonsdale belt on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old was stopped with three seconds remaining in the sixth round despite looking capable of continuing.
Crolla had been floored in the third round and suffered a gash about his eye in the fourth but expressed his disappointment at the referee stepping in.
Trainer Joe Gallagher now hopes Matthews, who was a voluntary challenger for the belt, repays the favour to Crolla, even offering to have the second bout in the new champion's home city of Liverpool.
Repay the favour
"This was a voluntary defence for Anthony," Gallagher told the
Manchester Evening News.
"We gave Derry Matthews a chance and hopefully he will repay the favour.
"We've done it in Manchester, now let's do it in Liverpool. This has got the potential to be a great series in the manner of Jamie Moore and Michael Jones.
"It was a fantastic fight and I'm sure television would want to see it again - this time in an even bigger arena."
Devastated
Gallagher believes Crolla's body shots were doing some damage and that his fighter was 'devastated' to have lost the fight.
"The referee had let it go at earlier points and we had controlled the cut to his eye," he continued.
"He was causing a lot of damage with his body shots and we feel he could have gone on to stop Derry. Anthony is devastated.
"He needs to take some time now before hopefully he gets a rematch and the chance to win his belt back."
