Following the comprehensive points defeat he suffered at the hands of the WBA champion, Jorge Linares, Anthony Crolla was the perfect gentlemen.
After being granted a re-match, after being beaten by Crolla in his last fight, the Manchester fighter had these words for his fans, courtesy of his interview with Sky Sports,
‘He’s a great champion.
‘Manchester, I am so sorry I couldn’t do it for you. Your support means so much to me. He caught me but before that I thought I could get to him. I got beaten by the better man – no excuses.
‘I am 30 years old, I am going to rest, but I believe I can go again.’
Whilst continuing, this time with the good folk of the BBC, Crolla added,
‘I could just not pin him down. I was pleading with Joe Gallagher to let me go on for the last round, and you still believe you can land a shot.
‘I’m gutted I couldn’t do it in front of these fans.’
As for the last round reference, it seems Crolla?s trainer, Joe Callagher, was going to pull his fighter out, with Gallgher remarking to the media,
‘I thought we were not going to win this, but Anthony pleaded and said ‘let me go on’. He wanted to go out on his shield.
‘Linares was very good and everyone could see what a great world champion he is. You have seen one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world.’
Indeed we have.
But we?ll leave the last words to Eddie Hearn, the man who put the whole show together and who had this to say,
‘I thought after the first fight Jorge Linares would not perform a career-best performance and he did. He was absolutely brilliant.
‘It is so hard when Anthony Crolla comes up to you and says ‘I’m so sorry’. You lost on points to one of the best pound for pound fighters.
‘We will choose an easier world title. Anthony Crolla will be back 100%, he is an ultimate professional and a credit to himself.’
We await Anthony Crolla?s next move with interest.
Post-Fight Views from Crolla?s Camp
