Being compared to a former world champion after only seven professional fights is one thing, but being compared to the legendary Gennady Golovkin is on another level.
Last night, Matchroom Boxing hosted another fabulous evening of boxing action from the CO-OP Live Arena in Manchester – with five of the eight bouts ending in a KO/TKO.
The best of the bunch was arguably scored by undefeated 26-year-old William Crolla, who found himself being compared to ‘GGG’ after lightning-quick first-round stoppage.
Eddie Hearn hails the ‘Manchester Golovkin’ after first-round KO
Whilst William Crolla was hoping to get some much-needed rounds in, he was still widely expected to run through Ayoub Zakari in short order – and run through him, he certainly did.
After an impressive opening round on the front foot, Crolla would land a powerful left hook that clipped the top of Zakari’s head; the Spaniard was left doing the ‘chicken dance’ as he wobbled back to the ropes before the referee mercilessly called a halt to the contest – or lack thereof.
“He’s quite scary really, sort of the 15 seconds after he wins, he screams around the ring, comes over and starts staring at me – he’s very different to his brother Anthony in some ways,” teased promoter Eddie Hearn after Crolla’s stoppage win.
“It’s starting to get really exciting now and really serious, talking about a potentially world-class prospect… There’s nothing like watching a fighter with great power and I know the comparisons are sometimes a bit higher but for me, Gennady Golovkin.
“The way he turns his shots, and I see the way he was turning his knuckles over… You know exactly where you’re hitting round the face – the Manchester Golovkin, whatever, I don’t care but he’s knocking people out and we love to see it… I think he’s going to put the fear up the 154lb division.”
Hearn revealed that Crolla is signed up to compete again on March 28, and that Matchroom Boxing will now look to find an opponent for that date who can offer a sterner test.
“It’s alright blowing over journeyman who shouldn’t be in the ring, but that was a real step up… And he’s just destroyed him in a round, world-class power will yet be seen – but freakish power [absolutely].
“I don’t want him to go too slow; it’s difficult because he hasn’t done the rounds, luckily, he’s back out on March 28 in Altrincham… Great to get back out there again.”
World champion brother ‘might have to get on’ hype train after R1 KO
William’s older brother Anthony Crolla held the WBA lightweight title between 2015 and 2016, sharing after last night’s fight that his sibling did everything that he expected of him.
“Each time I see him in there he’s improving, before he went out, I said, ‘Don’t be getting drunk on your power, please go about your work like a top-class prospect should and that’s what he’s done tonight’.
“He’s worked so hard and there’s a great team [behind him], the sparring he gets in-house, it’s bringing him on all the time and yeah, this hype train, I might have to get on it as well.”
Anthony Crolla noted that there was a time “not too long ago” when William was 50/50 on whether to carry on with professional boxing – now, he’s eying national titles.
“But he’s got back into boxing, changed his whole lifestyle and he’s around quality lads in the gym who are bringing the best out of him. They’re all pushing each other on, I love that competition and he’s going to keep on improving.”