Manchester's Anthony Crolla is to fight for the world lightweight title

Anthony Crolla beat Hungary's Gyorgy Mizei Jnr on points in Dublin on Saturday

Manchester's Anthony Crolla will fight Richar Abril of Cuba for the WBA world lightweight title next January.

The fight will be at the Manchester Arena on 23 January after Crolla, 27, beat Gyorgy Mizsei Jnr of Hungary on points in Dublin on Saturday.

Crolla said: "I am a Manchester lad so to be fighting in Manchester for a world title, I couldn't ask for anything more.

"The only way it could get better than that is to go out there and win it."

Crolla is the WBO Inter-Continental lightweight champion and former British champion.

Abril, 32, is the reigning WBA champion with a record of 19 wins from 23 fights whose last defence saw him end Finland fighter Edis Tatli's unbeaten record in Helsinki in September.