Crolla's Coach: We Can Beat Barroso, Saw A lot of Flaws

By Edward Chaykovsky

WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla (30-4-3, 12KOs) is already getting mentally prepared for his first title defense in the first few months of 2016.

Crolla captured his title with a fifth round knockout of Darleys Perez at the Manchester Arena in their November rematch.

The popular fighter owes a mandatory defeanse to dangerous puncher Ismael Barroso (19-0, 18KOs), who earlier this month knocked out Crolla's countryman Kevnin Mitchell.

Trainer Joe Gallagher, who leads Crolla's corner, is not overly concerned with Barroso. He saw a lot of flaws in Barroso that Crolla is capable of exploiting if the two fighters collide next year. There is a possibility, as BoxingScene.com first reported, of Crolla facing WBC champion Jorge Linares in a unification.

Crolla and Gallagher are waiting for a solid date, and opponent, to map out a solid training camp.

"Crolla will be out before April so it could be March or even as soon as February," said Gallagher to the Manchester Evening News.

"Barroso is the mandatory challenger and that’s who we will look to fight. It had to happen within 120 days but it could happen sooner than that. We're not going to run from the fight as it's one I think we can win as I saw a lot of flaws from Barroso against Kevin Mitchell."