By Jake Donovan

Anthony Crolla has overcome enough obstacles in and especially out of the ring to where those closest to him can’t help but to believe in his chances ahead of the biggest fight of his pro career. 

The former lightweight titlist from Manchester, England is a massive underdog heading into his mandatory title challenge of unified 135-pound titlist and pound-for-pound entrant Vasiliy Lomachenko this Friday at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

More focus has been placed on the event serving as the one-year anniversary of the launch of ESPN+, the streaming platform for ESPN, than the bout itself. As much isn’t lost on the challenger and his team, who are well aware of the uphill battle they face, but still openly embrace the challenge and with every intention of pulling off a major upset.

“Being a unified champion, part of your responsibility is to face your mandatory challengers,” Eddie Hearn, Crolla’s promoter noted of Lomachenko (12-1, 9KOs) being obligated to face his charge. “So thank you to Loma and to Egis (Klimas, Lomachenko’s manager) for not vacating the belts, but saying ‘No, no we’re not going to do that. We want the unification bouts but also accept responsibility that comes with being champion.’” 

Crolla (34-6-3, 13KOs) held a lightweight title for 10 months after a 5th round knockout win over Darleys Perez in their Nov. ’15 rematch. The bout came just four months after their controversial 12-round draw, which in turn came six months after the 32-year old Brit suffered a fractured skull and a broken ankle after fending off two burglars. 

His title win capped an unbelievable comeback story, but the glory was short-lived as he conceded the title to Jorge Linares in Sept. ’16. Efforts to regain the title proved even more lopsided in their March ’17 rematch, having since won three straight including a unanimous decision over Daud Yordan last November to become next in line for his old title.

Lomachenko-a two-time Olympic Gold medalist for Ukraine—won his first lightweight title in an off-the-canvas stoppage win over Linares last May. The win resulted in his becoming a three-division titlist, adding to his collection in his next fight—a 12-round decision over Jose Pedraza in their 135-pound unification bout last December.

The hope was to add a third belt as this date was originally set aside for Lomachenko to face Ghana’s Richard Commey, who captured a 135-pound title this past February. However, his 2nd round knockout win over Isa Chaniev came at the cost of suffering a hand injury, of which he’s only been recently cleared to return to the ring.

As a result, the 31-year old Ukrainian southpaw was locked into a mandatory title defense for his next ring adventure. He could have just as easily dumped a title and pursued a more lucrative—if not more meaningful—bout. Instead, he did the right thing, going through with the fight in hopes of further unification for his next ring adventure.

“It’s so great that (Lomachenko) has chosen to focus on legacy rather than just the big money fight,” noted Hearn, intended as a compliment but only partially appreciated by the other side.

Lomachenko fights under the Top Rank banner, founded more than 50 years ago by Bob Arum. The Hall of Fame promoter—who is feisty as ever at age 87—is never at a loss for words, especially when it comes to taking a dig at Hearn, one of his favorite targets.

“I like what you said,” Arum noted, but only before seeking to immediately cash in the good gesture. “I hope you have the same attitude when (Top Rank-promoted heavyweight) Kubrat Pulev, the number one contender in the IBF challenges (unbeaten, unified heavyweight titlist) Anthony Joshua.”

For what it’s worth, the offer wasn’t rejected. 

“Absolutely. I’m all after that fight,” Hearn, quipped.

Friday’s bout marks just the third for Crolla outside of his native England, and his first in the United States. It also marks his first career title fight outside of his Manchester hometown.   

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox