Crolla expects to be a better fighter in Burns showdown

Anthony Crolla says he’s a better fighter now after dropping two fights to Jorge Linares.

Anthony Crolla (31-6-3, 13 KOs) is all set to take on Ricky Burns (41-6-1, 14 KOs) this Saturday at the Manchester Arena, and tells Sky Sports that following two straight losses to Jorge Linares, he’s actually come out a better fighter.

"I believe definitely I'm a better fighter through them fights and on Saturday night I know I've got to be at my very best," Crolla told Sky Sports News.

"I'm fighting a three-weight world champion, Ricky Burns, a fantastic fighter and I think our styles cannot help but gel to be a fantastic fight. I'm really excited for it. I think the fans will be the winner."

Crolla, 30, also senses the urgency in this fight as the winner is likely to be back on a title hunt while the loser will be taking a serious step back in their career. And at age 34, that’s certainly something that Ricky Burns doesn’t want to be doing.

Burns too is most recently coming off a loss to Julius Indongo this past April — with Indongo then going on to lose in an undisputed title unification with Terence Crawford in August.

It’s quite possible we’ve already seen the best that both Crolla and Burns have to offer at this point, but who do you like in this weekend’s match-up?