Bradley Rea still remembers the night that ignited his dream. He was 16, one of thousands packed into Manchester Arena on April 19, 2014, when local rivals Anthony Crolla and John Murray battled for city bragging rights. The fight lived up to its billing — a fierce lightweight clash between two friends and former sparring partners.
Murray, once trained by Joe Gallagher, now had Crolla in his corner. The veteran gave everything, Crolla triumphed, and went on to become a world champion. For young Rea, though, the night left a lasting impression.
Eleven years later, Rea has his own “battle of Manchester.” On Saturday at Co-op Live Arena, he defends his European light-heavyweight title against Lyndon Arthur, in the chief support bout to Joshua Buatsi vs. Zach Parker — a card packed with potential show-stealers.
Reflecting on 2014, Rea told Boxing News: “We used to go to the arena all the time, but that night was different. The buzz around the city was split right down the middle. When this fight came up, I remembered being in the crowd thinking, ‘I want to be in a fight like this one day.’ Opportunities like this don’t come around often. Two elite lads, same weight, same city — I couldn’t say no.”
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Since winning the European title against Shakan Pitters in July, Rea’s confidence has soared. That 12-round breakthrough not only earned him a belt but also a deal with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
“This is the place to be, especially for light heavyweights,” Rea said. “It was a little relief — proof I wasn’t kidding myself. That win opened doors that were closed before.”
Now 26, Rea feels in control of his career for the first time. “The ball’s in my court. People want what I’ve got, and I can dictate a little. It’s nice — I’ve never had that before.”
Across the ring stands Arthur, 34, a seasoned campaigner who has faced Dmitry Bivol and Anthony Yarde. Arthur has suggested the fight might mean more to Rea than to him — comments Rea sees as complacency.
“I think it means more to me, and if he’s overlooking me even a little, he’s going to regret it. He remembers me as a skinny 16-year-old amateur. I’m not that kid anymore.”
A win could pave the way for domestic blockbusters within Queensberry and potentially a world title shot. Rea knows the stakes: “I’ve got to make myself stand out. Just winning isn’t enough. I need to make people sit up and take notice in this stacked division. I’m confident I can do that.”
This weekend, Manchester will witness a young fighter chasing a lifelong dream — in the city that inspired it all.
