Former WBA lightweight world champion Anthony Crolla is not paying any attention to the critics who believe he's going to be overwhelmed in a potential fight with the current WBA beltholder, Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Earlier this month, Crolla won a twelve round unanimous decision over Daud Yordan in a final WBA eliminator - which earned the British boxer a mandatory crack at Lomachenko.

But first, Lomachenko is going to face WBO champion Jose Pedraza in a high stakes unification on December 8th at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The two-time Olympic gold medal winner is a huge favorite to win the bout.

Crolla lost his title to Jorge Linares, who Lomachenko knocked out in May to capture the belt.

Eddie Hearn, who promotes Crolla, is planning to push for the mandatory fight with Lomachenko - which includes taking the bout to a purse bid.

Crolla is embracing the fight with both hands.

"People have their opinions on social media and stuff like that," Crolla told Sky Sports. "It doesn't bother me whatsoever, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

"With those people who have got this opinion how I would get smashed in a round or two, for the sake of them, do I say 'You know what, I'll give up my mandatory and I'll just hope that he vacates'. What type of fighter would I be? What kind of example would I be leading to the amateur kids, if I said I didn't want to fight him? I would love the fight. I would be going in with the attitude that I want to shock the world."

And Crolla has no issue traveling to the United States to make the Lomachenko fight happen.

"If the fight got made, it's more than likely it would be in America," said Crolla. "You would imagine New York or Vegas. I've been lucky enough to box on an undercard in Vegas.

"For me, the only one left to do would be New York. I like the whole history of Madison Square Garden. I was lucky enough to be there for the Cotto-Margarito fight. New York, it would make it a bit easier for the fans, it's a bit shorter. March or April, in an ideal world, but obviously we've got to see what happens on December 8, and being honest, what Lomachenko's plans are. He's one of the biggest names in the sport. He'll do effectively what he wants to do, but hopefully the fight can happen."