The world title contender Anthony Crolla may never box again after being brutally attacked while confronting burglars, his trainer, Joe Gallagher, fears.

The Mancunian was left with a fractured skull and broken ankle after pursuing two men whom he saw in his garden after hearing his neighbour’s burglar alarm go off on Tuesday night. The BBC has reported that he had surgery at Royal Oldham Hospital, where a plate and pin were inserted in his ankle and 12 stitches into a head wound.

Crolla’s long-awaited world lightweight title shot against Richard Abril on 23 January has been scrapped and Gallagher is unsure as to his charge’s future. “I went straight to the hospital last night and he was very emotional. He was shocked, stunned, very upset,” Gallagher said. “When I spoke to him this morning he was discombobulated, all over the place, taking in everything that’s happened. Boxing is his life but it plays second fiddle at the moment.”

He added: “We were so grateful for the world title opportunity but that’s gone. Whether they can reschedule it, whether he’ll get the opportunity again and whether he can even ever fight again remain to be seen. But first we have to concentrate on getting Anthony back to full health.”

Crolla, who lives in Chadderton, near Oldham, managed to catch one of the two suspected burglars as they tried to climb a wall, prompting the other to pick up a concrete slab and slam it over the diminutive former British and Commonwealth champion’s head. “Some would even say he’s been very lucky, because it could have been tragic,” Gallagher said. “If that slab had landed at a slightly different angle, we might not have had Anthony with us today at all.

“He’s the nicest kid you could meet and where most people would see something like that happening and close their curtains, the warrior in him kicked in. He’s only 5ft 8ft and 9st 9lb but he went out there. The support he’s had has been incredible. He’s an amazing, special human being.”

The world heavyweight title contender Tyson Fury, who is also from Greater Manchester, was quick to send his support to Crolla. “My thoughts are with him,” he said. “It’s a big shame. He’s been gearing up and been on good form to get this world title shot.“It just shows how it can be given to you and taken away so simply. I’m sure Eddie Hearn will get him a postponement on it and get him another title shot.”

Crolla was due to face the Cuban champion Abril for the WBA lightweight title in Manchester next month. The Matchroom promoter Hearn tweeted: “Gutted to confirm that @ant_crolla is in hospital with a head and ankle injury after confronting burglars at/near his property.

“Anthony is in a stable condition in Oldham hospital. Unfortunately the Jan 23rd fight is off but concerns right now are with Ant and family.”

The 28-year-old Crolla, known as Million Dollar, had said about the scheduled fight with Abril: “To have the world title shot in Manchester is a huge factor. Without wanting to sound cheesy, it doesn’t get any bigger than that.

“I am a Manchester lad so to be fighting in Manchester for a world title, I couldn’t ask for anything more and the only way it could get better than that is to go out there and win it.”