'Hindley Hammer' James Moorcroft credits 'Million Dollar' Crolla with title in sight

Moorcroft, 30, faces Liverpool’s Nathan Bennett at the University of Bolton Stadium, in a fight that earns the winner a shot at the English welterweight belt.

The Hindley-born boxer – who is cornered by Crolla – believes the teaching he has received from the former WBO world champion will help to realise his domestic title dreams.

He said: “Ant’s a former world champion, so what he doesn’t know about boxing isn’t worth knowing.

"I think he’s forgotten more about the sport than I remember!

“I’ve been under Ant for two-and-a-half years now, and I can’t believe what he’s done for me.

“I came to him as a boy and here I am now as a man.

“It’s not about training hard but about training right.

"I used to train a lot – maybe too much – but since he’s come in we’ve cut down to training specific things and it’s worked well.

“Whatever I do on the night I’ll leave to Anthony, because if I can’t listen to him I might as well be listening to nobody.”

Moorcroft, whose record stands at 18-2, will be fighting in a 10-round bout for just the second time in his career, and faces his toughest opponent yet in Bennett.

The 29-year-old from Liverpool - who enjoyed a decorated amateur career at super lightweight - will move up in weight class to challenge Moorcroft.

But the 'Hindley Hammer' is confident that his gamep-lan accounts for the fresh challenge.

He said: “I’m not approaching the fight any differently. I know what I need to do to beat him.

“He’s a brilliant fighter, he’s fought for England, and he’s only been beaten by the best.

“I’ve never had any amateur fights, but I do believe I’ll have the edge on him.

“I’m bigger, faster and stronger than him in there and I’m looking forward to showing that on Friday.

“We’ve been given a big opportunity to fight live on Channel 5, which I’ve done before, but not this high up on the card...right underneath a world title fight.

“I’m buzzing to get in there.”

However, despite calling the match-up ‘personal’ – and being the bookies’ favourite at 4/11 – Moorcroft was full of praise for his Friday night dance partner, going as far as to call it a '50/50' match-up.

He added: “It’s one I’ve been waiting for – these kinds of fights, the ‘50/50’ fights.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the ring with him because – with how good he is – he’ll bring the best out of me. It’s going to be a ‘thinking’ fight.

“There’s a lot of pride going into these fights, because we know each other.

“He’s managed by my manager, and I want to be the number one welterweight in the management company, not number two.

“There’s a lot going into this which is hidden, whoever wins this is going on to big things – come Friday night, it will be me.”