WBA welterweight champion Anthony Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) is taking a tough fight against Jorge Linares (40-3, 27 KOs) in pursuit of a second belt. The winner of the bout will receive the WBC Diamond lightweight belt and have the option to face WBC lightweight champion Dejan Zlaticanin. Whether either of them choose to do so is a question for another day.
Bet on boxing odds at BookMaker.eu
Anthony Crolla -190
Jorge Linares +155
Please note, the boxing odds at BookMaker.eu are updated daily.
Odds Analysis
It’s a close one, as expected. Crolla is a clear favorite at -190, but this is not going to be an easy fight for him. In some sportsbooks Crolla is just a -140 favorite with Linares even money at +100. Linares is a tough, experienced fighter who matches up well with Crolla - I wouldn’t be surprised if Crolla’s line gets cheaper in the coming days.
Fight Preview
At 29 years old Crolla has fought his way into contender status. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of his career is when he was seriously wounded while chasing burglars who robbed his neighbors. Though his injuries were career threatening, he came back in 2015 to fight Darleys Perez to a draw. In the rematch, he stopped Perez in the 5th round to win the vacant belt. Crolla then defended it with a KO of then-unbeaten Ismael Barroso.
A native of Venezuela, Jorge Linares is a skilled offensive fighter with a superbly layered game. He recently had his WBC belt stripped from him because he was unable to defend it against Zlacatanin due to injury. There are times when Linares looks like one of the best in the world, but three untimely losses - to Juan Salgado, Antonio DeMarco and Sergio Thompson - has kept him from breaking through.
Linares will need to bring all his skills to the table to beat Crolla’s brawling style. It doesn’t help that the Venezuelan cuts easily and becomes notably affected when opened up. But Linares is a slick, athletic fighter who with speed and power - all traits that will give Crolla pause.
The key for Crolla is constant pressure and his trademark energy. He has the ability to smother an opponent’s punches and wear them out through sheer volume. It’s hard not to appreciate his throwback, blue collar style. He just never stops working inside the ring.
Betting Values
While Crolla will be fighting at home, Linares has had success in his lone trip to the U.K. Plus the Venezuelan presents a bad matchup for Crolla - his sharpshooting technique will lead to some big, clean hits on Crolla, and that should be enough to sway the judges. Take a shot on Linares at +155.
Boxing Odds: Linares UD Crolla
HOW TO BET
With BookMaker Sportsbook, you can bet on boxing all year, from regional cards to pay-per-view events. Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook. You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Crolla vs. Linares takes place September 24, 2016 at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, U.K. The fight will be televised on Sky Sports.
