By Keith Idec

A year after losing his first world title fight, lightweight contender gives him a second chance.

The native Peruvian has won both bouts since Darleys Perez beat him convincingly in their 12-round fight for the WBA world lightweight championship last Jan. 9 in Santa Ynez, California. His easy victory over Ghana’s Samuel Amoako (21-6, 15 KOs) on Friday night in Philadelphia improved Maicelo’s record to 23-2.

“I think Crolla’s a good fighter, but I think I’m better than him,” Maicelo told BoxingScene.com. “With all due respect, I would like Crolla to give me a chance to fight him. Please accept my challenge.”

Crolla (30-4-3, 12 KOs) won the WBA’s world 135-pound championship by knocking out Colombia’s Perez (32-2-1, 20 KOs) in the fifth round of their rematch Nov. 21 in Manchester, England, Crolla’s hometown. The 29-year-old Crolla and Perez fought to a 12-round majority draw in their first fight July 18 in Manchester.

Maicelo, 32, watched both Crolla-Perez bouts and feels he has the style to beat Crolla if given the chance later this year.

“I feel a fight with me and Crolla would be a good fight,” said Maicelo, a North Bergen, N.J., resident. “I know this time around I’ll take better advantage of the opportunity to fight for a world title.”

Securing that opportunity might not be easy, though. Maicelo isn’t currently ranked among the WBA’s top 15 lightweight contenders, a requirement for a title shot.

Crolla also has a mandatory defense due against No. 1 contender Ismael Barroso (19-0-2, 18 KOs). Venezuela’s Barroso is the WBA’s interim lightweight champion and likely will face Crolla next.

Before beating Amoako on Friday night, Maicelo out-boxed Cincinnati’s Brandon Bennett (19-2, 8 KOs) to win their 10-rounder by unanimous decision Aug. 28 in Washington, D.C. That was his first fight after Perez beat him.

“I’m a firm believer that you learn from losses,” Maicelo said. “I went over my mistakes and I feel at this point in my career I’ve gotten better. You can see it in my last two fights. I’m ready now for a world-class fighter like Crolla. I’d like that opportunity. Hopefully I’ll get it.”

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.