The Anthony Crolla v Jorge Linares fight for the WBA, WBC (diamond) and Ring Magazine light weight titles turned out to be a cracker.
Coming into the fight it was expected to be a close encounter with the bookmakers, but the better fighter in Jorge Linares won in the end.
The first round was a feeling out process, both fighters working behind tight high guards, throwing some distance finding punches and looking to give nothing away early doors as they tried to figure each other out.
Round two was a more lively affair and it looked like Crolla’s game plan was to apply pressure and close the distance.
Linares’ classy speed and power was on show at times in the round off the back foot and when he was on the ropes his upper body movement got him out of trouble from Crolla’s attacks.
The man from Venezuela continued to show his class in the third, boxing in a very confident rhythm while landing some nice single left hooks to the body and head at times, as well as combinations as part of a varied punch output.
The fourth round started a bit better for Crolla who’s patient aggression and pressure strategy began to have success. This was halted however by an excellent body punch from Linares – that was strangely ruled a low blow by the referee however.
The fight really came to life in the 5th round with both fighters having moments of success, a cut developing over the eye of Linares.
The sixth round seemed like it was going very well for Anthony Crolla who’s pressure appeared to be tiring Linares but before the end of the round Linares hurt Crolla to his boots, but Crolla dug in and fired back – managing to survive the end of the round.
As the second half of the fight got underway in round seven Crolla’s game plan appeared to be working. His pressure was making Linares work harder than he wanted to and the Englishman’s right hand proved to be an effective weapon in the round.
The fight had become a physical battle by round eight, Crolla pushing Linares back.
However the South American was still dangerous and put in some classy body to head combinations, although they was more pot shots in the round for him compared to previous rounds.
Linares was fighting in bursts in the tenth round with Crolla remaining patient, hunting Linares who was still able to get off some excellent single punches even though he looked tired.
Both men appeared a bit fatigued by this point though, to be fair.
The quality of Linares’ work was on display in the tenth as he seemed to find a second wind, the right hand looking very sharp both in single punch form and as part of straight one-two combinations down the pipe.
Linares looked in control in the 11th round as he got on his bike and counter punched on the back foot, appearing totally assured in his work.
A supremely conditioned Linares turned it on in the last round, mixing up his shots very well. It looked like Crolla was having difficulty with the speed of Linares and the unpredictability of his shots – in what proved to be an entertaining battle overall in Manchester.
Linares ran out deserved winner by unanimous points decision to become the recognised best lightweight fighter in the world.
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