The 30 days weights are in. WBC Diamond, WBA and Ring Magazine Lightweight World Champion Jorge "El Niño de Oro" Linares (41-3, 27 KOs) and Anthony "Million Dollar" Crolla (31-5-3, 15 KOs) met the WBC's requirement of the 30 day weight checka head of their highly anticipated rematch for Linares' titles set at the Manchester Arena on March 25, live on Sky Sports and sponsored by Betfred.
Linares weighed in at 144.8 pounds, while Crolla scored 144 pounds on the scale.
JORGE LINARES (41-3, 27 KOs), WBC Diamond, WBA and Ring Magazine Lightweight World Champion:
"I wasn't supposed to win, but I'm glad I did so I can come back. Manchester treated me so well and I am so happy to return. The belts mean so much to me and my country, and I am going to work very hard to make sure that I take them home again.
"It's a new year and a new day, Anthony is going to be better and hungrier, and that means I will work harder, come with more skill and an even better game plan to win. I hope to see another huge crowd in Manchester and we're going to provide the fans with another beautiful fight."
ANTHONY CROLLA (31-5-3, 13 KOs), Lightweight Contender:
"I want the belt back, simple. Fighting for these prizes in front of us is huge, I'm so lucky to have a second chance and it's one I have to take. It was a special night last time, great crowd and it'll be even bigger this time. The setting was perfect but I lost my belt. I lost to a great fighter but I don't celebrate losing, I don't want to feel it again and I want to go down in history by beating a great fighter. I am better in rematches and I'm locking myself away to work harder and smarter to make sure these belts stay here.
"Jorge is the best and I want to be the best - beating him stakes my claim. I didn't win the first one but I had success and I can work on that. We've both got great teams behind us, I believe if I make the right changes for the fight I will take the titles.
Tickets for Linares vs. Crolla II are on sale now and available at www.manchesterarena.com or by calling 0844 847 8000 in the UK. Tickets are priced at £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150 while VIPs tickets are exclusively available through www.matchroomboxing.com priced at £250. Face value tickets for March 25 will also be available from www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/.
