Saturday 27 June 2015 13:15, UK
Anthony Crolla is hoping the Manchester crowd can help him to the WBA world lightweight title when he faces Darleys Perez on July 18.
The 28-year-old faces the newly-crowned Colombian at the MEN Arena - live on Sky Sports - just seven months after sustaining a fractured skull when confronting burglars near his home.
Crolla told Sky Sports News HQ: "I believe that fighting in Manchester is one of the factors that will swing my way. Some fighters play up to the crowd but I'll use it to my advantage. I really believe that it'll be the equivalent of a 12th man in a football game on the night.
"Darleys Perez is well-travelled and has been all over the world and has a fantastic pedigree but he won't have experienced anything like what the Manchester crowd is going to be like that night.
"What it would mean to win a world title is hard to put in to words after everything that's happened but it's a dream I've had since I was a lad ever since I first laced up the gloves aged 10 or 11.
"I've got a chance to make a dream come true on July 18 and with everything that's happened these past seven months, it'd just make it even more special. A great end to a mad old story!
"In preparation, everything has gone fantastically and I certainly believe I'm in a better position to challenge for a world title now than I was in January, before the incident. I'm ready."
On the same bill, Crolla's fellow Lancastrian Scott Quigg defends his WBA super-bantamweight title against Kiko Martinez.
