BoxRec

Its fight week, looking forward to this bout what's everyone feeling ?

I think Crolla stops Linares late but won't be shocked if it goes to points

Linares on points in a back and forward classic. I actually wouldn't be surprised if it went the other way and a 5er on the draw would be a decent outside punt. Looking forward to this and I hope Crolla does it but Linares is tough and classy so it'll be Ants toughest fight to date.

Linares is very skilled and can be tough to pin down once he gets into his rhytm.
But he has shown a lack of durability in the past and I think that would be Crollas best chance here, wear him down with body shots and put it on him late.

Great matchmaking.

I think they've got Linares at the right time.

His reputation at LW relys a lot on the Mitchell war and I think Mitchell was shot.

I'm picking Crolla on points. Hats off to Matchroom though. They've managed to make Crolla a huge draw.

I'm wondering what's next for Crolla providing he comes through this, he seems eager for the big fights and fears no one. I'd love to see him get it on with our other LW world champion but politics will no doubt get in the way.

Thoughts on this, anyone?

Amazing fact, Linares has NEVER completed the 12 round schedule....despite being 7-2 in world title fights. Crolla to break him down late.

Crolla to grind down Linares in a classic.

Anthony has developed in a hard career and is ready for this excellent unification.

I strongly fancy Crolla to KO Linares somewhere late in the fight after giving him a beaten,Jorge might start fast as Anthony can be a slow starter but once he gets into his stride i can see him taking Linares to pieces bit by bit,Linares is rightly regarded as the No1 Lightweight as he's the most experienced and decorated but i dont think he's the best anymore,Mitchell was able to get on top of him before his eye injury let him down and Crolla is a lot more cute than Kevin ever was

Also Crolla's confiedence must be sky high after KO'n Barroso who was a dangerous fighter,that along with the home crowd and Linares's inactivity leads me to believe Crolla will win well,i think it will be a classic though with plenty action..and blood

Linares often gets a lot more credit than he deserves in my opinion. It's fairly common opinion that he's the #1 lightweight, but is that warranted considering his best win since getting stopped consecutively by Demarco and Thompson is the life and death, come from behind struggle with Mitchell? The guy Ricky Burns iced in 4? Incidentally, Barroso also seems to get way too much credit for beating Mitchell, and in his case it was very much an end of the line KM.

I think Linares may well be only the 6th to 8th best at 135, and like hos I favor Crolla to stop him late. It would be another good win, but it wouldn't make Crolla the premier guy at the weight for me.

If Crolla was to lose; I think Tesco Joe would have a nervous breakdown.

Boxing Prospect wrote:Amazing fact, Linares has NEVER completed the 12 round schedule....despite being 7-2 in world title fights. Crolla to break him down late.

Best fact of the day.

What's made him such a exciting fighter for so long.

Boxing Prospect wrote:Amazing fact, Linares has NEVER completed the 12 round schedule....despite being 7-2 in world title fights. Crolla to break him down late.

This really surprised me as I was ever so slightly leaning towards Linares by decision. No I have no clue.

Hope Crolla wins by any means , he comes across really well and is not in dull fights

Best of luck to him.

Crolla will win by mid to late knockout and I'll be ringside ish, cheering him in!!@

I think Crolla has a great chance and he's meeting Linares at the right time he's been inactive and he's not been looking great in last couple of fights so maybe he's on the slide, I think Crolla is improving with every fight he seems to of changed the way he fights to the typical Joe Gallagher way, he's got a brilliant defence and right guard and he's a lot quicker on his feet than some of gallaghers fighters

PredatorHayds wrote:

Boxing Prospect wrote:Amazing fact, Linares has NEVER completed the 12 round schedule....despite being 7-2 in world title fights. Crolla to break him down late.

Best fact of the day.

What's made him such a exciting fighter for so long.

He has come on strong late in a lot of fights. People point to him fading vs demarco a lot. But he stepped on the gas late against mitchell no problem.

This is a great matchup and I'm really excited about it.

I predict a fight of the year candidate.

Linares has very good variety, punches nicely in combination and has fast feet to go with the fast hands. Crolla has looked physically strong of late, appears to be peaking at lightweight and his punch repertoire has been really impressive. Think his body shots will slow down the more mobile Linares and contribute to a late stoppage to get Crolla the Ring belt.

Gutted. I've been off the last two Saturdays (which is rare for me) so I've been able to see Brook & Smiff get beaten up. Now there's a competitive fight (on paper) & I'll be back at work - missing it.

Crolla has looked really, really good lately. I was at the Staples Centre when Linares lost to De Marco. In my drunken state I fought it was an even fight & the stoppage was dodgy but I've been told I was well off the mark

I can't really pick a winner. I'm a fan of both but would love for Crolla to win & have a Manc unification bout with Flanagan - who himself needs a decent fight soon to get that built up.

Munyai has pulled out of his Commonwealth title fight against Lowe,no reason given yet,gutted for Isaac,he's had no luck since winning that title,he's still fighting but in an 8 rounder

handsofstone wrote:Munyai has pulled out of his Commonwealth title fight against Lowe,no reason given yet,gutted for Isaac,he's had no luck since winning that title,he's still fighting but in an 8 rounder

Gutted. I had Munyai at 9/1. Best value boxing bet. in a long time.

crusader wrote:Linares often gets a lot more credit than he deserves in my opinion. It's fairly common opinion that he's the #1 lightweight, but is that warranted considering his best win since getting stopped consecutively by Demarco and Thompson is the life and death, come from behind struggle with Mitchell? The guy Ricky Burns iced in 4? Incidentally, Barroso also seems to get way too much credit for beating Mitchell, and in his case it was very much an end of the line KM.

I think Linares may well be only the 6th to 8th best at 135, and like hos I favor Crolla to stop him late. It would be another good win, but it wouldn't make Crolla the premier guy at the weight for me.

well put together argument there mate

crusader wrote:Linares often gets a lot more credit than he deserves in my opinion. It's fairly common opinion that he's the #1 lightweight, but is that warranted considering his best win since getting stopped consecutively by Demarco and Thompson is the life and death, come from behind struggle with Mitchell? The guy Ricky Burns iced in 4? Incidentally, Barroso also seems to get way too much credit for beating Mitchell, and in his case it was very much an end of the line KM.

I think Linares may well be only the 6th to 8th best at 135, and like hos I favor Crolla to stop him late. It would be another good win, but it wouldn't make Crolla the premier guy at the weight for me.

If its common opinion that Linares is #1 at 135, why is Crolla a big favourite to beat him

Is Crolla a 'big' fav?

Linares is number one with The Ring, ESPN, Boxing Monthly, Boxing News, Fightnews, and more, so he's pretty commonly seen as the top guy for some reason, when by far his best win since being stopped back to back is the life and death with Kev Mitchell.

Crolla physique looks fantastic, gets better and better. His improvement in the latter part of his career is quite amazing really. I just cannot fathom how he has done it. He was always a grafter so not sure what is different. Better diet or supplements maybe?

I just can't have Crolla I think he has (to pardon a pun) punched above his weight big time already. I expect Linares to win this.