Anthony Crolla, Willie Limond are in Position To Fight

By Phil D. Jay

British 135lb champion Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla could meet Scotsman Willie Limond in the first defence of his lightweight title after the British Boxing Board of Control put the contest to purse bids. Both camps have until July 13th to finalise their bids and the contest has to take place before the end of October.

Crolla, 24, boxed his greatest fight to date last January, knocking out Liverpool’s John Watson on his home turf in the ninth round to claim the Lonsdale Belt and is hoping to add the WBA Inter-Continental title to that next week at Robin Park Sports Centre in Wigan against an un-named opponent.

32 year-old former Commonwealth champion Limond, has a wealth of experirence to call upon, including sharing the ring with Mexican legend Erik Morales for six rounds last September and briefly holding the lightly-regard World Boxing Union title in 2009. The Scot will now hope to challenge for the British title for the second time after a failed attempt at the 130lb belt in 2003 against Alex Arthur.

Speculation has been rife about Manchester-born Crolla (20-2) possibly meeting new European champion Gavin Rees in the autumn, but the former super-featherweight may have to relinquish the British title before he can challenge the Welshman for his newly-acquired EBU strap.

Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net