World Champ "Million Dollar Crolla" lined up for White Collar event

Wednesday 08 June 2016

World champion boxer Anthony Crolla will be the star of the show at this weekend’s big Jersey boxing event and has promised to give fight fans a real insight into his sport.

Crolla, who successfully defended his WBA lightweight world title in front of a 20,000-strong Manchester crowd last month with a seventh round stoppage of Ismael Barroso, traded blows with Jersey’s Ben Murray 11 years ago as an amateur.

The duo will meet again on Saturday, but this time over a four-course dinner, as boxing trainer Murray will referee 11 bouts between Jersey office workers, both male and female.

Crolla said: “I am coming to Jersey for the first time and to be honest, I can’t wait. I’ve heard it is a sold-out show, which is great, but I’ve also been told by friends who have been to Jersey that it is a wonderful island. I’m coming along with my girlfriend and she is looking forward to it as much as I am. 

“I just hope I can give everyone who comes a really good night, where they can ask me whatever question they want to find out what it is like to be a professional sportsman and the sacrifices you have to make. They are all worth it in the end though, when the referee raises your arm and the ring announcer says “And the new world champion.””  

Murray has sold all 600 tickets for the white collar event, which pits office workers in the ring for three, two minute rounds. Jersey boxing fans are invited to attend, for free, the weigh-in this Friday at the Royal Yacht Hotel in St Helier, starting at 5pm, where Crolla will be in attendance.

In the eight years BoxInBusiness has been held, Murray and his organising team have raised £170,000 for charity – and this time all monies raised will go to Teenage Cancer Trust and Le Tournoi, in association with Wet Wheels, a charity which takes disabled people on day trips on a specially adapted boat. 

Murray said: “It is a brilliant set of charities and we are delighted with how the sold-out signs have gone up for Anthony Crolla’s visit. The fact that I boxed against him 11 years ago in the Amateur Boxing Association quarter-finals in Liverpool makes it even more special. 

“I’ve obviously followed his career since he won the ABA’s in 2005 and for him to be coming to Jersey on the back of the first successful defence of his WBA lightweight crown is incredible.”

Jersey-based Murray, who has trained the fighters for this weekend’s charity event, added: “The good thing about Anthony is that despite all the fame and glory he has still retained his reputation as one of the nicest people in sport."

Crolla, 29, who turned pro in 2006 after a glittering amateur career, won the British title five years later and captured the world crown last November in halting Darleys Perez inside five rounds.

His victory over Barroso last month via a seventh round stoppage could lead to a mouth-watering world unification clash with Jorge Linares later this year, as the Venezuelan holds the WBC version of the lightweight title.

Crolla said: “These are exciting times for boxing as we currently have 13 world champions and the sport is really on the up. I hope all who attend on Friday and Saturday really enjoy themselves, raise some money for good causes and to all of those who are boxing in the ring I’d like to thank them all personally, because I know how much dedication it takes to step in through the ropes.”