Stacey Verbeek

Trainer Joe Gallagher has dismissed the prospect of Anthony Crolla fighting Luke Campbell next, adamantly stating that the fight would only happen if there were a world title at stake.

Crolla (32-6-3) claimed last week that there was a ‘good chance’ that he would fight Campbell (17-2) in a huge British domestic clash in 2018.

But Gallagher insisted that Crolla is solely focused upon becoming a two-time world champion and that potential fight with Campbell as all talk as they bid for a world title shot this year.

“Nobody has spoken about (Anthony) Crolla and Luke Campbell,” stressed Gallagher exclusively to World Boxing News. “That’s Sky and other people just trying to get that fight.”

“People have asked (me) about that but, Anthony Crolla won’t be fighting Luke Campbell unless there’s a world title on the line.”

“I don’t know where this keeps coming from. Anthony did an interview the other day and it got twisted about fighting Luke Campbell.”

Crolla recovered from his rematch loss to Jorge Linares in March by defeating Scotland’s Ricky Burns by points decision in October at the Manchester Arena.

Meanwhile, Campbell has been out of the ring since losing a split decision to Linares in September and Gallagher believes the former Olympian Gold medallist should come back with a win before eyeing a fight with Crolla.

“Anthony Crolla fought Jorge Linares, the world champion, has come back and got a fantastic comeback win against Ricky Burns, a three-time world champion at three different weights,” continued the trainer.

“Luke Campbell obviously lost to Linares and has done nothing since. You (Campbell) need to come back and get a win.”

“There’s Yvan Mendy, who’s beaten Campbell, that’s a good comeback fight for him, and he’s above him in the WBC world rankings. If he wins that, (if) Crolla’s had a good win, I’m sure the two of them could fight for a world title.”

The former WBA world champion, who is ranked in the top eight by the WBC and WBA, could see a return to action on the Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker undercard in Cardiff on March 31st.

“Anthony Crolla wants to be out soon, maybe on the Anthony Joshua (vs Parker) undercard and then we’ll take it from there,” added Gallagher.

“We’ll be looking at the winner of Ray Beltran vs Paulus Moses and we’ll have to see what happens when all the world champions have fought and what is happening with the titles at a later date.”

“We’re in the business of getting another world title shot. At the moment, Luke Campbell needs a win. They’ll be no Crolla Campbell fight unless there’s a world title on the line.”

Jacob Kilbride is a staff writer for World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @jacob_kilbride