Crolla and Burns are friends outside the ring but will be rivals tonight NICK POTTS/PAA painful night at the hands of Jorge Linares in their rematch in March did nothing to dent the enthusiasm of Anthony Crolla. Indeed it was only the fractured ribs he suffered that night that kept him away from the gym for a few weeks. Crolla, who had lost his WBA lightweight title to Linares the previous September, faces Ricky Burns at Manchester Arena tonight in what is a crossroads fight for two former British world champions. Crolla is now 30, Burns, who lost his WBA light-welterweight title to Julius Indongo in April, is 34. Victory will have the winner hunting down another world-title shot, defeat would have them considering their future.

Source: The Times October 06, 2017 23:15 UTC