Monday 26 September 2016 00:10, UK
Anthony Crolla is relishing the chance of taking on Jorge Linares in a rematch for the WBA world lightweight title in Manchester early next year.
Crolla (31-5-3 KO13) lost his WBA strap in front of partisan home crowd at Manchester Arena on Saturday night after suffering a unanimous points defeat to Linares (41-3-KO27), with the Venezuelan winning 115-114 117-111 115-113 on the scorecards.
Following the fight, promoter Eddie Hearn revealed there was a rematch clause inserted into the contract, while Linares insisted he was willing to come back to Manchester to face Crolla.
Crolla has already expressed his desire to exercise the option of a rematch and hopes to attract another boisterous home support for their next clash.
"We'll be looking at around February, March time. We're both away now as it was a tough old fight, have a little rest and do it again," Crolla told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I think that's where [Manchester] it's going to be. The attendance and turn out last night was absolutely amazing and hopefully we'll get something similar, if not better, after the fight that was put on last night [Saturday]."
Crolla was rocked in the sixth by a powerful right hand from Linares and looked to be in some trouble as the seconds ticked down, but managed to recover to see out the round.
The 29-year-old feels the sixth proved to be the pivotal round in the bout and believes it enabled Linares to grow in confidence as he became a three-weight world champion and new Ring Magazine title holder.
"I felt round six I was having a good round. I honestly thought I was getting Jorge Linares where I wanted him and I started to feel in control," he added.
"But he then hit me with that right hand and throughout the fight, knowing that he had hurt me, he knew he could do it again. I felt that played a big part in the fight.
"I recovered and won the next round, but I think that was a big part in the fight."
