By Terence Dooley

Manchester’s Anthony Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) underlined his world title level credentials with a stunning sixth-round body shot induced stoppage over the dangerous Ismael Barroso at the city’s Arena on Saturday night to cap a stirring recent run of form.  Barroso (now 19-1-2, 18 early) halted Kevin Mitchell in five in his previous fight, but he could not repeat the trick on his second visit to the U.K.

Indeed, the win came not too long after Leicester City FC officially lifted the Premier League trophy, which they secured last Monday and paraded around the King Power Stadium after thumping Everton 3-1 on Saturday evening.  “Million Dollar” believes that his story has a lot of similarities with Leicester’s ascent to the top tier’s title.

Seemingly down and out after losing to Derry Mathews and Gary Sykes respectively in 2012, the 29-year-old turned things around only to be left badly injured when attempting to stop two men who had tried to burgle his neighbour in December 2014.  Many thought he would never box again only for him to confound the odds by drawing with then stopping Darleys Perez for the WBA World crown.

“Like everybody who loves their football, I've been amazed by what Leicester have achieved and you know what?  They have deserved it,” he said when speaking to the Scottish Daily Mail.

He added: “So have I.  I've done a Leicester in a boxing way.  I always believed but something has just started going right for me.  It's down to hard work, good preparation and more hard work.”

With his mandatory behind him, Crolla is free to make a voluntary or could try to chase down a unification with city rival and WBO holder “Turbo” Terry Flanagan, as both men have mooted a meeting in recent months.

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