ANTHONY Crolla has set his sights on a rematch after losing his WBA lightweight title by unanimous decision to Jorge Linares in Manchester on Saturday.

The Venezuelan produced a classy performance to see off the popular Mancunian, and appeared to be in control throughout despite being taken 12 rounds for the first time in his career.

Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed after the fight that a rematch had already been agreed for next year, and Crolla appeared to rule out a domestic fight against Terry Flanagan in favour of trying to claim back his title.

He said: “I think it will be Linares next year, in February or March.

It was a tough old fight. I’ll have a little rest and then we’ll do it again.

“The turn-out was amazing and hopefully we’ll get something similar if not better than the fight that was put on last night.”

Crolla, 29, had brief moments of encouragement, in one, landing a right hand in the fifth that cut Linares’ right eye, but he suffered a crucial blow in the sixth when the challenger landed a big right. Crolla admitted that punch changed the course of the fight.

“I thought I was in control and had him where I wanted him,” he said.

“I took that right hand and I felt that it gave him that feeling that he knew he could hurt me, and could do it again. That played a big part.

“I recovered and won the next round, but I think it was a big point in the fight. I took a very good shot and after that, I knew where I was and what I was doing but my legs were trying to tell me different.”

The competitive opening rounds did little to encourage the defending champion. Linares had often appeared vulnerable in the early stages of fights, as he showed when being knocked down by Kevin Mitchell in May 2015 before recovering to win.

Crolla had been expected to pursue him during those early rounds, but instead he chose to repeatedly target Linares’ body in an attempt to tire him in preparation for the second half of the fight. Linares’ superior class, speed and accuracy ensured he at least edged the majority of the first five. He hurt Crolla with body shots in the fourth, one of which referee Terry O’Connor considered low, halting the action to allow the champion to recover.

Linares, 31, showed his first signs of fatigue after sustaining the cut to his eye, but just when it appeared the action would begin to favour the champion, Crolla was caught by the best punch of the fight.

The injured Crolla was forced to retreat back on to the ropes, where he appeared in danger of being stopped. He remained content to survive until the round concluded.

Linares had expended significant energy trying to finish the fight, but even with his stamina depleted, his greater technique ensured the fight’s second half remained competitive, and he stopped Crolla building the lead his work-rate sought.

His timing and jab continued to impress and ensured that, going into the final two rounds, Crolla had need to win both to stand any chance of earning a decision from the judges.

Bleeding near his left eye, he increasingly looked the fighter who once looked unlikely to progress beyond domestic or European level.

Crolla’s career has already been better than many expected, but the final stages of the fight simply confirmed the suspicion that his level had been found.

Linares, who won by a unanimous verdict – 115-114, 117-111, 115-113 verdict – said: “We gave Manchester a beautiful fight, and we can do it again. Once my hand heals, I’ll go back to the gym, start training, and why not come back to England? Why not come back to Manchester? I love it here. Anthony Crolla deserves a rematch.”