Jorge Linares DEFEATS Anthony Crolla for the WBA Lightweight Title – Breaking Boxing News
In the main event of the evening, Jorge “The Golden boy” Linares, 41-3, 27 KO’s, won a close unanimous decision over Anthony “Million Dolla” Crolla, 31-5-3, 13 KO’s, in a great fight to capture the WBA and Ring Magazine lightweight titles, from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, Lancashire, England. The event was broadcast by sky sports and was promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom boxing, and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
Jorge Linares has held world titles in three weight classes (featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight), and was once considered one of the best boxers in the world before suffering three losses to Juan Carlos Salgado, Antonio Demarco, and Sergio Thompson, all by knockout. He has since bounced back well from those losses, and came into this fight riding a 9 fight win streak, with 7 of them coming by way of knockout.
Anthony Crolla is a former British lightweight champion and knocked out Darleys Perez in November of 2015 to win the WBA world lightweight title. Crolla and Perez fought to a draw in their first meeting four months earlier. He then made the first defense of this title by knocking out Ismael Barroso in seven rounds.
Linares got off to a quick start tonight, boxing from the outside and throwing fast combinations to the body of Crolla. Linares output started to slow in the middle rounds as Crolla cut off the ring effectively. Linares was cut over his left eye in the 5th round, but bounced back in the sixth after catching Crolla with a big right hand that hurt him badly. Crolla survived the round, and recovered well in the seventh, pushing Linares back and using good ring generalship. Linares again gained control in the later rounds, seeming to catch a second wind and his speed advantage became too much for Crolla. He put up a good effort in the twelfth and final round, but looked tired himself and ultimately came up short as the judges scored it 115-114, 117-111, and 115-113 in favor of Linares.
In the co main event; Jack Arnfield, 21-2, 5 KO’s, won a unanimous decision over John Ryder, 23-3, 12 KO’s, in a very competitive fight, becoming the new WBA international middleweight champion. It was competitive from start to finish, wish both fighters battling to impose their style of fighting. Arnfield; the taller fighter, wanted to use his range to box the shorter Ryder. In the early rounds of the fight, he was successful as he kept Ryder at bay with his long jab. The style of the fight changed in Ryders favor in the middle rounds as he was able to get inside and launch attacks to the body. He continued to gain momentum as he slipped punches and countered effectively. Arnfield didn’t give up, and began imposing his style again in the 9th round, working off his jab. Arnfield stepped up his aggressiveness in the championship rounds as he knew he needed to pick up the pace. He finished strong thru the 12th round and earned himself a decision victory. The judges scored the bout 117-114, 118-110, and 115-114, all in favor of Arnfield.
Also on the undercard; Light heavyweight contender Callum “The One” Johnson, 16-0, 11 KO’s, who won a gold medal at the 2010 commonwealth games, stopped Willbeforce Shihepo, 23-9, 17 KO’s, to capture the vacant commonwealth light heavyweight title. Shihepo, the former WBO Africa super middleweight champion, started the fight very aggressive, coming forward throwing lots of punches. The momentum of the fight changed in the 3rd round after Johnson caught Shihepo with two left hooks that wobbled him. Johnson continued to gain momentum after Shihepo began to look tired and was deducted point for holding. He was again deducted a point in the 7ths round and was held up by the ropes after a flurry of punches from Johnson and it was ruled a knockdown. The fight was now in Johnson’s control, and Shihepo continued to lose steam; clinching as much as he could and looking exhausted. Now it was only a matter of time. Johnson caught Shihepo with a hard right hand that dropped him in the 9th round and he failed to get up as the ref counted him out of the fight.
To start the broadcast; Super lightweight prospect Conor “the Destroyer” Benn, 5-0, 3 KO, son of former middleweight and super middleweight champion Nigel Benn, kept his undefeated record in fact as he looked very comfortable in the ring and cruised to a shutout victory over Ross Jameson, 1-2, 0 KO’s. Benn only had 20 amateur bouts, but he was the more experienced fighter today, as he walked the outmatched Jameson down the whole fight. Jameson had his moments, but the difference in skill level was very evident. Benn came forward the whole fight, slipping punches as he came in and mixing up his attack to the body and head. If was Benn’s first fight post 4 rounds, and he looked impressive.
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