Linares-Crolla II Set for March 25 on Showtime

WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares waged a memorable battle with Anthony Crolla last September – one of the best fights of 2016 – but it was Linares, not the local fighter, who walked out of the ring in Manchester, England with the title belt around his waist.

The two fighters held a press conference on Tuesday in the same city to formally announce their highly-anticipated rematch, which will take place March 25 at Manchester Arena. Showtime will televise the action, though specific air times in the U.S. weren’t revealed as of press time. What was announced, however, is that the WBC has mandated that the winner of Linares-Crolla II will fight whoever wins between Mikey Garcia and current 135-pound champ Dejan Zlaticanin this Saturday.

“I wasn’t supposed to win the first fight, but I’m glad I did so I can come back and do it again,” said Linares (41-3, 27 KOs), who held world titles at featherweight and super featherweight as well, at Tuesday’s presser. “The belts mean so much to me and my country, and I am going to work very hard to make sure that I take them home again. Anthony is going to be better and hungrier, and that means I will work harder, come with more skill and an even better game plan to win. We’re going to provide the fans with another beautiful fight.”

Crolla (31-5-3, 13 KOs), who captured the WBA lightweight strap by knocking out Darleys Perez in the fifth in November 2015, defended it once before losing it to Linares. He has spent several years snatching up regional titles in the U.K. before finally becoming world champ and he is on a mission to reclaim what he feels is rightfully his.

“I want the belt back, simple,” Crolla said at the presser. “Fighting for these prizes in front of us is huge. I’m so lucky to have a second chance and it’s one I have to take. Jorge is the best and I want to be the best – beating him stakes my claim. I didn’t win the first one but I had success and I can work on that. I am better in rematches and I’m locking myself away to work harder and smarter to make sure these belts stay here.”

A full undercard will be announced in the coming weeks.