Crolla to face Stephen Foster Jnr on Saturday after Gethin withdraws

[boxrec]

http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/f/f2/AnthonyCrolla350.jpgAnthony ' Million Dollar' Crolla will defend his WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title against fellow Manchester fighter Stephen Foster Jr. on the undercard of Carl Froch’s WBA and IBF World Super Middleweight title defence this Saturday at the Phones 4u Arena, Manchester.

Crolla had been due to challenge for Martin Gethin’s British title on the bill, but Gethin has withdrawn.

Since claiming the strap with a career-best performance against Gavin Rees in Bolton in June, Crolla makes his first defence against former European super featherweight champion Foster, who’s last title fight came in the same Arena when he challenged Gary Buckland for the British super featherweight strap on the undercard of Ricky Hatton’s comeback last year.

Crolla is determined to capitalise on his recent resurgence with a strong performance against Foster, which he hopes will lead to big fights in 2014.

“If I keep winning then it will happen because Eddie can deliver big fights,” said Crolla.

“At the minute I'm not on (WBO champion) Ricky Burns' radar, he's looking at fighting Ray Beltran again or maybe Terence Crawford, and I've got unfinished business with Gethin that can hopefully be resolved around the same time.

“I’ve got to work my way up to that, but if I do I don't see why I cannot challenge Ricky or we could go down another route, that's all up to Eddie, I'm just going to keep concentrating on winning.

“It's nice to be the Inter-Continental champion; it gives you a World ranking and puts you in the shop window for some big fights, so I have to defend the title well. In the Lightweight division there are domestic fights that can almost serve as World title eliminators or propel you up the World rankings.”

Foster added: “It’s a great opportunity to fight on a massive bill in my hometown. I’m always in the gym and in great shape and I was preparing for December 11 in Australia, so there are no issues there, I’m ready.

“I’m up for any fight and this one promises to be a cracker. Anthony is a very good fighter and a local derby always gets the blood going so I can’t wait to get in there. He’s been in some tough fights recently with Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews that might have taken something out of him, so I think I can get up there at Lightweight and show that I’ve got the power to gate crash his party.”

On a busy night for trainer Joe Gallagher, Bury’s Scott Quigg defends his WBA super bantamweight title against Diego Silva. Gallagher-trained Scott Cardle also features on the bill.

Former IBF bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell and former British feather and super featherweight champion Stephen Smith will both fight in eight round bouts, and there’s also a late spot on the bill for Martin Murray, back in action after his controversial loss to Sergio Martinez in his second World title challenge in April. The 31 year old faces Sergey Khomitsky.

Rocky Fielding defends his Commonwealth super middleweight title and Olympic Gold medalists Anthony Joshua MBE and Luke Campbell MBE both feature in their fourth pro contests. Joshua takes his first significant step in the paid ranks against Hector Avila, who took Dereck Chisora nine rounds in April, while unbeaten super flyweight Kal Yafai continues his comeback from injury.

 

 

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