It’s looking like Mission Impossible for Anthony Crolla in Los Angeles this weekend. The proud Mancunian and former world champion takes on boxing’s pound-for-pound star Vasyl Lomachenko, for a stab at his WBA (Super) and WBO world lightweight titles.

The Staples Center will be brimming with excitement on Friday night, with an army of support expected for Crolla. Following wins in his last three fights against tough tests, Million Dolla Crolla has forged his path towards another chance of world honours, following losing his WBA strap to Jorge Linares in 2016. Crolla would go onto rematch the Venezuelan in early 2017, but lost another convincing UD.

At 32-years and with 43 grueling fights under his belt, it’s looking like the last chance for Crolla to climb the lightweight mountain once again. Looking in fantastic shape in the build-up to this fight, Crolla and his trainer Joe Gallagher are happy with their camp in preparation for this huge test; Crolla looks to be in the shape of his career, he’ll need every possible inch of improvement to cause a shock on Friday.

Vasyl Lomachenko is a scary talent. The angles, the movement, the pivots, the feints; Hi-Tech has become a phenomenon in the sport since turning pro in 2013. Just one (controversial) defeat to Orlando Salido in his second pro fight and one loss in 397 amateur fights (which he avenged twice) punctuates the skill-set that the Ukrainian two-time gold medalist possesses. Forcing stoppages against some serious A-level fighters such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Miguel Marriaga and Nathan Walters gave him the nickname of “No-Mas-Chenko”; Crolla will have the final bell in his sights as a minimum requirement this weekend.

It’s not all been smooth-running for Loma. A flash knockdown from Jorge Linares in his tenth round win over the former world champion showed that there are potential gaps in the armor of the Matrix. Crolla’s body punching has given him the biggest successes in his career to date, so will no doubt go downstairs early on the champion, relying on his fitness in the later rounds.

The odds are startling. To be honest, you’ll struggle to find any fighter at shorter odds than 4/1 when coming into Loma’s den. Crolla is 20/1 to get the win on Friday, that’s right, 20/1.

The value lies in the distance of this fight going on Friday. Crolla is well versed in the 12-round wars that have seen him force this opportunity, so to suggest that the Mancunian may fold early in LA is a little disrespectful of his talents.

Only an injury – in all honesty – can stop Lomachenko getting the win on Friday. Loma has strolled through fighters with a much better pedigree than the Brit, so this defence of his lightweight crowns shouldn’t cause too much of a hurdle.

Crolla’s heart and guts are why this fight will become watchable in the later rounds. Loma will be eyeing a stoppage by breaking Crolla’s soul, but at the back-end of his career, Million Dolla won’t go down without a fight. He went a punishing 24 rounds with Linares without ever looking likely to throw in the towel. Crolla will need to capitalise on his size and strength in this fight if he is to see out the final bell.

Vasyl Lomachenko to win by decision or technical decision @ 7/2
Over 9.5 rounds @ 7/4

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