By Elliot Foster

Anthony Crolla will have a massive fight next.

The Manchester lightweight (31-4-3, 13 KOs), 29, will defend his WBA title against Venezuela’s Jorge Linares.

Crolla, who retained his belt in spectacular fashion at the Manchester Arena on May 7 with a stunning seven-round stoppage of dangerous mandatory challenger Ismael Barroso, will return to the venue on September 24.

The showdown between Crolla and Linares will also be for the vacant WBC Diamond championship and will be screened exclusively live on Sky Sports.

Many wanted to see New Moston’s Crolla take on fellow Mancunian Terry Flanagan, the WBO champion (30-0, 12 KOs) from Ancoats, in a unification fight, but ‘Turbo’ will look to retain his title against former two-time world champion Mzonke Fana on July 9, as part of the undercard to Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title rematch against former kingpin Wladimir Klitschko.

Linares (40-3, 27 KOs) has been sidelined with a hand injury since stopping Ivan Cano inside four rounds last October and has been on these shores before, having fought and knocked out Kevin Mitchell, the now-retired former WBO title challenger, in 10 rounds 13 months ago.

Crolla won the belt with a five-round finish of then-champion Darleys Pérez last November and then, as previously mentioned, ended the challenge of Barroso, who is also from Venezuela, early last month.

And now ‘Million Dollar’ will be in for what could be a career-highest payday when he takes on the Japanese-based man in a clash that will also have the coveted Ring Magazine belt at stake.

He said of the fight: “I’m so excited to have the chance to unify the lightweight division.

“Jorge is a fantastic fighter and it’s another mountain to climb, but these are the tests that I thrive on and I’ve beaten two great fighters in Perez and Barroso and I’m confident that I can beat Jorge too.

“I’m having to pinch myself after everything that’s happened. I’m fighting the number one fighter in the division for the WBC, WBA and Ring titles. It doesn’t get any better than this. I’m very proud and privileged to be able to bring this fight to Manchester.

“I’ve been a fan of Jorge Linares for years now and he’s technically brilliant at times but like any other fighter, he has vulnerabilities. It’s up to me to expose those vulnerabilities and I truly believe that I can and I will.

“Linares is a great champion but these are the fights you want to be in boxing for.

“The last two nights in the Arena have been unbelievable and I think that we’ll take it to another level against Jorge. He’s boxed all over the world and taken on some of the best – but fighting me in front of a packed Manchester crowd is not something you can prepare for.”

“This is my first unification fight and a great personal challenge for me and my career,” said Linares.

The 30-year-old continued: “I am ready to prove that I am the best in the lightweight division in what is my first unification fight.

“I want to thank my promoters Golden Boy Promotions and Teiken Promotions for putting this fight together but [can assure you that] I am coming in with a lot of determination, pride and hunger for a victory.”

The show, which is being billed ‘Two Worlds Collide’, is being promoted by Matchroom Sport and their head honcho, Eddie Hearn, is delighted to deliver such a great opportunity for his fighter in Crolla.

He said: “I think boxing has a huge amount to do with momentum and while Linares is clearly established as the number one Lightweight in the world, I think this is the time to beat him.

“When you look at the performances that Crolla has given in Manchester, I would have him as favourite to beat Linares.

We had plenty of options but with the run Anthony is on, the only thing on his mind is to be the number one in the division and the lineal champion.

“The Ring belt is so highly regarded within the trade and when there was a possibility of the belt being up for grabs, I can’t tell you how excited Anthony Crolla and trainer Joe Gallagher were, it was the icing on the cake.”

Twitter: @FreelanceFoz