Crolla's Column: Big Nights Back in Manchester
I’m really looking forward to a big night of action in my home city of Manchester this weekend. Boxing takes centre stage at the new Co-Op live arena for the first time, and it promises to be a belter. Before I get to that though, I have to give praise to a couple of standout performers last weekend.
Sam Gilley was very impressive on Friday night at York Hall. Jack McGann took the fight at short notice after Louis Greene was forced out with injury. It was a great stoppage and now I’m sure Sam will soon get his rematch with Louis, and we can all look forward to another fantastic battle.
Over at the Copperbox on Saturday night, we were treated to another glimpse of just how talented Adam Azim is. It was a very interesting fight on paper against Ohara Davies – a man with vast experience and someone who can cause anyone problems on his night. I know how tricky he can be after sharing many rounds in sparring with him.
But Adam was too sharp, and it was a very polished performance. It was good to see them all having food together after the fight – they both trained at the Peacock together and are mates. That’s what it’s all about. Ohara spoke really well about retirement after that loss, so it may be the last time we see him.
There were a lot of close rounds in the Lewis Edmondson v Dan Azeez fight. I thought Dan had nicked it, but Lewis did box a clever fight, and he did dig deep. What a night for him!
Moving on to this weekend, and big-time boxing is back in Manchester and I’m really looking forward to going to the new arena. Jack Catterall is top of the bill with Regis Prograis – no doubt they are two of the biggest names in the super-lightweight division.
I think this is going to be cagey early on. The first four rounds could be fairly quiet with not many shots thrown – a game of chess with a lot of feinting. I think Jack will buzz Regis along the way and go on to win on points. Listen, Regis is a quality fighter but after the Devin Haney defeat, I don’t know if he’s on the decline or not. He is a class act though – his fight with Josh Taylor could’ve gone either way, and Josh was at the top of his game then. We will soon find out what the man from Louisiana has left, but I’m backing Jack to get the job done.
There’s a cracking domestic tear-up on the card with a man I know well, Mikey Gomez Jr in against the heavy-hitting Reece Bellotti. Mikey is a nice kid, mad as a box of frogs, but a top fella. This is a great fight.
I like Reece and his team as well, just good boxing people, and he can wallop. I think Mikey can apply pressure and just edge it in a tough fight.
You’ve got to respect Campbell Hatton for jumping straight back in against Jimmy Joe Flint who won their first fight, inflicting Campbell’s first defeat as a pro. Campbell is a great lad and he’s still a baby so it was crazy for people to be writing him off. I think Campbell can get revenge in a tough fight and nick it on points.
A certain William Crolla is also on the bill. I would like to state, again, that we are talking about my younger brother and not my son as is still being reported. I would’ve been eleven! He’s got a big step up against Lorenzo Grasso who has a decent record of six wins and two defeats – and he shouldn’t have lost one of those, he just walked on to a shot. He will come and give it a right go.
Will is looking well in training and is improving all the time. He’s been a bit frustrated at not fighting for six months, but he can take it out on his opponent. Will has to be switched on. He’s had four knockout wins on the bounce, but he can’t go in there complacent, looking for one shot.
Keep an eye out for the extremely gifted Pat McCormack and there’s a debut for Emily Whitworth which I’m looking forward to seeing. Junaid Bostan, Ste Clarke, and Joe McGrail are also on the bill so there are a lot of talented fighters on show.
