This Saturday the Manchester Arena will see the return of top-class boxing for the first time since that awful night when an act of terrorism claimed so many lives.
The Arena will host a Matchroom promotion that sees Anthony Crolla and Ricky Burns go face-to-face in a non-title fight.
It?s one of those fights where, with both boxers going into it after a loss, another loss could see retirement as the only option.
Crolla returns to action after being beaten, for a second time, by the outstanding Jorge Linares in a WBA world lightweight contest in March, whereas Burns makes a return to action for the first time since losing his WBA super-lightweight title to Julius Indongo of Namibia.
Ahead of the bout, Crolla has spoken to the media about returning to fight at the Arena, commenting,
‘I’ll be very proud to be wearing the Manchester bee.
‘It is going to be an emotional night for a lot of people, the first time back at the arena since that horrible night.
‘There’s a lot of emotion involved, and I have to use it in the right way and make sure it lifts me.’
Before adding about the fight ahead which will see him fight for the eighth time in nine fights at the Arena,
‘Whenever I fight at that arena, I feel like it gives me an advantage.
‘People say once the bell goes, it is just you and your opponent, which is true, and Ricky is well travelled and experienced.
‘But I do believe it gives me that extra gear.’
As for Burns, this will be his first fight at lightweight since back in November 2015, with the Scot having to lose five pounds to make the weight.
Talking about making the weight, Burns remarked to the media,
‘I knew getting down to lightweight could have been hard, but I’ve been on the diet with no cheating and the weight’s just seemed to drop off.
‘I’ve done it comfortably this time. I have more or less been hovering around the weight limit for the last 10 days, and I’m still feeling good, talking to people, smiling.
‘For other fights, my portion sizes have been too big and I would sneak chocolate bars, but we’ve cut all that out.
‘All the preparation has gone to plan. I’m confident of getting the win.’
It has the prospects of being a huge fight, but who are you tipping to win?
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Crolla and Burns Ready to do Battle
