Boxing: Lomachenko v Crolla betting preview, tips, odds and TV details

TV: Sky Sports Action/Main Event, 3am Friday night

Manchester's Anthony Crolla certainly has a big challenge on his hands when takes on Vasyl Lomachenko for the world lightweight title in Los Angeles.

Loma is ranked as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet by The Ring magazine, and few would dispute his number one status. After dominating the amateur game for years the Ukrainian double Olympic gold medallist turned pro and won a world title in his third fight, became a two-weight champion in his seventh fight, and a three-weight champ in his 12th.

He has stopped eight of his last nine opponents - all world-class fighters - and while Jose Pedraza survived to the final bell in Loma's last fight, the Puerto Rican was on the canvas twice and lost a lop-sided decision.

It's hard to pick holes in Loma's game, and it's no surprise to see Crolla priced up as a massive 25-1 underdog.

Crolla is himself a former lightweight champion and proved he belongs among the elite despite losing his title in a great fight with Jorge Linares, although Linares highlighted a gulf in class when the pair fought a rematch in 2017.

It's hard to see Crolla causing an upset, but he has been stopped only once in 40 pro fights and won't go down easily. Six of Loma's nine stoppages have come between rounds seven and 12, so take Paddy Power's 13-5 that he wins in the second half of the fight.

Recommendation
V Lomachenko to win in rounds seven to 12
1pt 13-5 Paddy Power

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