Anthony Crolla (c) vs. Ismael Barroso - May 7th 2016

[wesshaw1985]

Hearn announce here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSO0AIsMq50

who takes home the WBA LW Title?

[cocobongo]

Crolla lucky to get a weak champion like Perez, Beat up and stopped inside 5

[Oiky]

crolla could win by decision but barroso has a decent chance of stopping crolla

[tigermoth87]

Is this a mando or voluntary defence? If voluntary credit to Crolla for taking it.

Barroso looks like a beast BUT, Mitchell aside so far he's only KO'd poor opposition. Mitchell was a cracking win but he's made entirely out of glass and imo isn't as good as Crolla. Crolla is looking good lately and packs a much better chin than Mitchell.

It's a good fight. I'd go with Barroso by stoppage but I'm not counting Crolla out; he's definitely good enough to grind out a points win.

[Boxerbeetle]

I'd like to see Crolla win, but I think Barroso will stop him.

[Stuarty]

I've only seen Barroso against a faded Mitchell so can't make a prediction with any great certainty. From what I've saw I'd say either a Barroso stoppage or Crolla points. I voted for the Brit. Hopefully Ant can take him into the later rounds and see what he's made of. If he does manage to edge it on points he'll probably have a few scares along the way.

[Stuarty]

Just had a quick scan of Barrosos' record and he's never been past 8. 33 too so that could play a factor if Crolla can take him to the championship rounds. Crolla has the more experience too.

[fightfan95]

I think Crolla wins on points, it will be very competitive in the early rounds - Crolla may get knocked down, but from round 7 onwards I can just see Crolla outboxing him, using his work rate and looking good for the points victory.

[GlobalBox]

Just had a quick scan of Barrosos' record and he's never been past 8. 33 too so that could play a factor if Crolla can take him to the championship rounds. Crolla has the more experience too.

I was thinking that then had a horrible flashback to Quigg's tactics on Saturday, Crolla can't afford to just throw 2 or 3 punches a round for 6 rounds or Barroso will just walk upto him and throw, they really need to not overthink this one.

[simonwalsh]

Crolla wins. Points or late stoppage.

[Stuarty]

Just had a quick scan of Barrosos' record and he's never been past 8. 33 too so that could play a factor if Crolla can take him to the championship rounds. Crolla has the more experience too.

I was thinking that then had a horrible flashback to Quigg's tactics on Saturday, Crolla can't afford to just throw 2 or 3 punches a round for 6 rounds or Barroso will just walk upto him and throw, they really need to not overthink this one.

Surely they won't overthink it! Crolla has Ring magazines trainer of the year in his corner after all Horse is starting an official Gallagher fan club

[Counter-puncher]

Interested to see how crolla deals with a southpaw. He normally works everything off his good jab, so he may take a few rounds to adjust IMO.

[simonwalsh]

Suppose the main question here will be where it will be. Arena is booked for some other shite. There's a lack of mid-size/equivalent size venues in Manchester suitable for Boxing.

Central/G-Mex
Maybe, but not used for boxing any time recently (that I recall).

Arena
Already booked for something else, but I suppose that could be cancelled/moved. Would be relatively unheard of though.

Velodrome
Been boxing there semi-regular. Too small though. Would like that though on a personal level as it's less than ten minutes walk from mine.

Rule out immediately anything too small or too big, i.e. Middleton Arena or Old Trafford. Could take a chance outdoors at somewhere like AJ Bell Stadium I suppose. LCCC I think would be too big.

[ste1983]

Suppose the main question here will be where it will be. Arena is booked for some other shite. There's a lack of mid-size/equivalent size venues in Manchester suitable for Boxing.

Central/G-Mex
Maybe, but not used for boxing any time recently (that I recall).

Arena
Already booked for something else, but I suppose that could be cancelled/moved. Would be relatively unheard of though.

Velodrome
Been boxing there semi-regular. Too small though. Would like that though on a personal level as it's less than ten minutes walk from mine.

Rule out immediately anything too small or too big, i.e. Middleton Arena or Old Trafford. Could take a chance outdoors at somewhere like AJ Bell Stadium I suppose. LCCC I think would be too big.

i was wrong on the other thread pal I checked back and whatever the arena was booked for has been moved to the Apollo (big difference in size!) freeing the arena up for May 7th I'd imagine it'll be there with usual set up (upper tier shut and a quarter of the hall curtained off).

[expe]

Suppose the main question here will be where it will be. Arena is booked for some other shite. There's a lack of mid-size/equivalent size venues in Manchester suitable for Boxing.

Central/G-Mex
Maybe, but not used for boxing any time recently (that I recall).

Arena
Already booked for something else, but I suppose that could be cancelled/moved. Would be relatively unheard of though.

Velodrome
Been boxing there semi-regular. Too small though. Would like that though on a personal level as it's less than ten minutes walk from mine.

Rule out immediately anything too small or too big, i.e. Middleton Arena or Old Trafford. Could take a chance outdoors at somewhere like AJ Bell Stadium I suppose. LCCC I think would be too big.

They've kicked Citizen Khan out of the arena, guessing it will be in there now.

[simonwalsh]

Ah cheers lads, hadn't realised they'd bumped Citizen Khan off.

I know where I'll be May 7th then.

[lefty]

I wonder if the Quigg defeat was the start of a shitty year for Gallagher.

[wesshaw1985]

I wonder if the Quigg defeat was the start of a shitty year for Gallagher.

and by association Hearn.
Fingers crossed...

[lefty]

I wonder if the Quigg defeat was the start of a shitty year for Gallagher.

and by association Hearn.
Fingers crossed...

Lol. Well there's talk that Liam Smith might end up fighting Cotto which is a tough fight even at this late stage of Cotto's career. You've got Crolla vs Barroso, Stephen Smith vs Pedraza, etc. The only one i'm pretty sure will definietly probably stay unbeaten is Callum. The rest its definietly feasible that all could lose.

[palooka]

I hope they've got a better game plan than poor Quigg had.

[crusader]

Interesting fight.

Barroso looked good against Mitchell, but not sure how much of that was down to Mitchell being over the hill.

[lefty]

Interesting fight.

Barroso looked good against Mitchell, but not sure how much of that was down to Mitchell being over the hill.

I don't think MItchell was completely shot. He looked good generally in his last few fights. He looked good against Linares overall.

[crusader]

Mitchell did look okay against Linares, but he took quite a beating. Him calling it a day also makes me wonder if he noticed signs that he couldn't perform as well anymore.

I doubt that he was totally over the hill, but maybe faded enough that Barroso defeating him in that manner flatters the Colombian. Since Barroso has fought pretty much no one apart from Mitchell it's still hard for me to get a precise idea of his level, though he's passed the eye test.

[tigermoth87]

Interesting fight.

Barroso looked good against Mitchell, but not sure how much of that was down to Mitchell being over the hill.

I don't think MItchell was completely shot. He looked good generally in his last few fights. He looked good against Linares overall.

He was ahead on points wasn't he before the stoppage? Bit unfair to call him shot if he's still keeping up with one of the top 3 lightweight's in the world. He was just too fragile to face a big puncher like Barroso.

[Andrew]

Still don't think it's a forgone conclusion like many think.

I've gone for Crolla points but he could hit the canvas.

Good chance I'll go to the fight though. Unsure what kind of undercard we will get though Matchroom have a show every week from March 26 to April 16.