Jorge Linares made a triumphant return from a hand injury to dethrone WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla and claim the vacant RING title at 135 pounds. Even though Crolla fell short in front of his rabid supporters in Manchester, England, a rematch appears guaranteed.
Although the lightweight division is somewhat devoid of mainstream star power, Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla proved that 135 pounds is capable of delivering thrilling contests between genuinely elite boxers.
Coming off the heels of Robert Easter Jr.’s IBF title-winning effort against Richard Commey in an explosive bout, Crolla-Linares was viewed as the fight to crown the best lightweight in the world. Fortunately, it lived up to the hype, and it also proved to be a credit to British boxing and its ongoing renaissance by yielding close but fair scorecards in favor of a visiting challenger.
Jorge Linares narrowly escaped Manchester with Anthony Crolla’s WBA title by scores of 115-114, 115-113 and 117-111, which reflected his impressive surge during the championship rounds. Crolla (31-5-3, 13 KOs) had backed Linares (41-3, 27 KOs) up for much of the fight, but the three-weight champion from Venezuela handled the pressure with aplomb, punctuating flashy combinations with a devastating left hook to the body or a knifing right hand upstairs.
Boxing well over the first few rounds, Linares outworked Crolla, although he expended a fair bit of energy retreating and moving laterally. Crolla, it seemed, was laying the groundwork for a surge in the middle rounds, which proved to be the case as he started to find success with sustained body work and a sharp right cross. Crolla cut Linares over his left eye, and the Venezuelan started to get warned for borderline low blows. Momentum appeared to be shifting.
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In round six, though, Jorge Linares rocked Anthony Crolla with a cannonading overhand right, forcing the Manchester man to retreat to the ropes where he proved to be an inviting, stationary target for the rest of the stanza. Linares, though, couldn’t capitalize on this momentum in round seven, which led to the fight’s most compelling stretch — riveting back-and-forth action heading into the championship rounds.
The final two frames reinforced Jorge Linares’ genuine class, as he caught a second win and boxed with supreme confidence — stymying Crolla’s pressure and bossing the action. Although the 117-111 scorecard was charitable, the judges most certainly got the winner right.
Eddie Hearn, who promotes Anthony Crolla, stated that there will be an immediate rematch and that the fight will take place in Manchester again. Jorge Linares is also keen to return to the UK, where he has delivered two tremendous performance as a lightweight: this win over Crolla, and his brutal come-from-behind knockout of Kevin Mitchell.
So much about Crolla-Linares was refreshing: two classy champions agreeing to fight on fair terms; a respectful promotion; a tremendous live atmosphere; a sensational fight; and actual respect shown by both men after the result was announced. There was no pretence, no pettiness and no controversy. That’s rare in boxing, which means Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla must fight again — and be celebrated for doing so.
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