ANTHONY Crolla has dismissed suggestions he and Ricky Burns are risking their legacies when they fight at the Manchester Arena tonight.
Each have had fine careers in which they have won world titles at lightweight – Burns was also a champion at the weight below and above – but the loser could struggle to recover from what would be their latest defeat.
Crolla has lost his last two fights, both to reigning WBA champion Jorge Linares, and a third in succession at the age of 30 would likely prove difficult to overcome.
Burns also lost his most recent fight, to Julius Indongo, and at 34 and like Crolla, hopes to avoid the seventh loss of his career.
The winner tonight could yet challenge again for world honours even if the loser would have few prospects, but Crolla, who weighed in at 9st 8lbs 9oz, said: “I don’t believe we’re putting our legacies on the line. We’ve both boxed top fighters.
“We sparred about nine years ago and a lot has changed since then.
“He’s been in with boxing royalty; he’s had a great career. He wants to win another world title and so do I.”
Another potential concern for Burns, who was four ounces lighter than his opponent, is that he is dropping down in weight and that few fighters have succeeded in doing so during the final stages of their careers.
Roy Jones Jnr and Oscar De La Hoya were among those in the modern era who suffered one-sided defeats in such circumstances, and Burns revealed his trainer Tony Sims was unhappy at the prospect.
“Tony wasn’t too keen on it but I know that I can do it properly and winning this fight can lead to bigger things,” he said.
“I’m not retiring until boxing is out of my system, until I hate training and am fed up with dieting.
“It’s been hard, but I’ve been strict with myself and shown to myself that I can do it if I just keep at it,” the Scot added.
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