Boxing’s hometown heroes

The popular Anthony Crolla takes on Jorge Linares in Manchester on Saturday – but which other Britons have inspired the masses?

WBA world lightweight king Crolla (31-4-3-KO13) defends his crown against three-weight world champion Linares (40-3-KO27) and is looking to continue a remarkable run of fights at the Manchester Arena.

‘Million Dollar’ was narrowly denied completion of his fairytale in July 2015 when controversially held to a majority draw against Darleys Perez, but he was not to be denied again – sinking the Colombian in the rematch with a vicious fifth-round body shot to ignite home fans.

The champion had no hesitation stepping in with heavy-handed mandatory challenger Ismael Barroso in May and recorded another famous stoppage. Now, he takes on an even classier Venezuelan in Linares, who was last seen in the UK in May 2015 when he halted Kevin Mitchell.

Crolla’s story has been highly publicised and he has Manchester behind him. Let’s recall some other British fighters who commanded similar patronage from their hometowns…

Frank Bruno

London

Few fighters from the capital have attracted the same adoration as heavyweight Bruno, and the combination of relief and unbridled joy that flooded Wembley in September 1995 when he finally got his hands on a world title was nearly palpable.

Prior to that glorious victory over Oliver McCall, Bruno had been stopped by Tim Witherspoon, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson in world …

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