Linares vs Crolla II: Full preview of world lightweight championship rematch
By James Dielhenn
Saturday 25 March 2017 22:38, UK
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Anthony Crolla and Jorge Linares both tipped the scales at 9st 8lbs 4oz
Everything you need to know about Jorge Linares vs Anthony Crolla, live on Sky Sports on Saturday night.
Live Fight Night
Background
Anthony Crolla lost his WBA lightweight title to Jorge Linares last September but will now welcome his rival back to Manchester for a rematch, and the opportunity to regain his world title.
Crolla was stung by a sixth-round right hand last year before falling foul of a unanimous decision defeat but is determined to regain his world title, and The Ring belt, from Venezuela's Linares.
There is a refreshing respect between Crolla and Linares after their initial tear-up and their world title rematch is a finely poised encounter that could result in a trilogy, should the home fighter avenge the first result.
What the fighters say
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Jorge Linares warns he will look for knockout opportunities against Anthony Crolla
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Anthony Crolla says he hopes to use the Manchester crowd to his advantage
What the world champions say
Jorge Linares, phenomenal fighter. 'Million Dollar' Crolla, phenomenal fighter. I am going with the hometown fighter. Crolla, you are doing it for all of us and I wish you the best of luck.
Linares will wait for Crolla to jump in and he counters with those combinations. If it was me, I would get in and out quicker.
Anthony Crolla has bounced back from defeat, like I have, and has shown the true colours of a champion. You find out a lot more about someone in a loss, then you ever will when they win.
What the experts think
Linares loves those two straights and then go down to the body with a lovely left hook, but Ant knows what he does, so anticipating that and catching him with a right will make Linares wary of doing that again.
If you try to change too much, then it will have a negative impact on Anthony Crolla's gameplan, but I would use slightly different angles.
Crolla has got to make Linares uncomfortable, make him miss, make him feel his age.
The weigh-in
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The White Stripes have pumped up sports crowds up and down the country and will do the same at the rematch between Anthony Crolla and Jorge Linares
Watch Jorge Linares vs Anthony Crolla II and a packed undercard, live from the Manchester Arena, from 7pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1.