As Anthony Crolla faces Jorge Linares in WBA lightweight title rematch, we recall the best grudge fights boxing has ever seen
ANTHONY CROLLA was granted his wish of an immediate rematch with brilliant Venezuelan Jorge Linares, who beat him on points in September to claim the WBA lightweight title.
Many have predicted that Saturday night's rematch at the Manchester Arena is only going one way given the visitor's classy performance in the city last time out when he was rewarded a unanimous decision following 12 tough rounds.
But Crolla, the 2-1 outsider, loves a rematch.
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When the likeable Manc suffered the first defeat of his career to Youssef Al Hamidi in 2008 he avenged it by beating him five months later.
Then, when he was controversially awarded only a draw after befuddling Darleys Perez in 2015, 'Million Dollar' stopped the touted Colombian with a body shot in the fifth to win the world title.
And, if Crolla needed any more encouragement against Linares, boxing history is littered with successful revenge missions.
Here, Sun Sport takes a look at some of the most famous IMMEDIATE rematch victories from the past.
Ray Leonard v Roberto Duran – November 25, 1980
Perhaps the most famous of them all. Leonard had lost on points to the 'Hands of Stone' in Montreal five months earlier, when he stood and traded with the Panamanian legend.
But, in New Orleans in November 1980, Leonard switched it up, getting on his toes to frustrate and outbox Duran.
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In fact, he did such a good job of it, Duran retired after eight rounds when he put his hands in the air, walked back to his corner and supposedly uttered the immortal words 'no mas' – no more.
Muhammad Ali v Ken Norton – September 10, 1973
Ken Norton had been labelled 'Ken Somebody' in March 1973 ahead of his first bout with Muhammad Ali, who was a 1/5 favourite in what was expected to be little more than a tune-up bout ahead of a crack at George Foreman.
But Norton broke The Greatest's jaw en route to a 12-round split decision victory.
Six months later, however, Ali had his revenge at the Forum in Inglewood, CA, this time edging a judges' decision himself. Ali would beat him for a second time in their 1976 rubber match too.
Lennox Lewis v Hasim Rahman – November 17, 2001
It is often said that you should never have an immediate rematch with a man who has just knocked you out – but nobody told Big Lennox.
The bookies' outsider Hasim Rahman chinned Lewis in the fifth round of their initial meeting in South Africa on April 22, 2001, but the Londoner had his revenge later that year to reclaim his world heavyweight titles.
With 1:45 left of the fourth, Lewis crashed home a textbook left-hook, right-hand combination to finish his shorter opponent, who tried to get up, but ended up falling over for a second time.
Antonio Tarver v Roy Jones Jr – May 15, 2004
The crowd had booed loudly and chanted 'bulls***' when Roy Jones Jr was awarded a split decision win over Antonio Tarver when they first met in November 2003.
That fight had been billed as 'now it's personal' so, when they clashed again in May 2004, they called it 'more than personal'. When the pair met in centre-ring for the referee's instructions, Tarver famously asked 'you got any excuses tonight, Roy?'
But he could have none when Tarver stopped him in the second with a vicious counter left hand from his southpaw stance to exact his revenge.
Then, in 2005, he made it 2-1 with a unanimous decision when they met for a third time.
Arturo Gatti v Micky Ward – November 23, 2002
These two served up arguably the most iconic trilogy in boxing history over the space of 13 months between 2002 and 2003.
And, after losing a razor-tight decision on the cards to his rival over 10 rounds in Connecticut in May 2002, 'Thunder' got his own back in the immediate rematch six months later.
The clash did not live up to the drama of the first as Gatti pulled away on points to claim a much wider victory than Ward had in the initial meeting.
They were closer again in their 2003 decider but Gatti again clinched victory to make it 2-1 and secure the ultimate revenge.