Age: 25
Twitter: @williamcrolla
Nationality: British
From: Manchester
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 4-0
Next fight: April 13th in Manchester
When and why you started boxing:
I started boxing at the age of eight. I used to go to the Fox ABC Gym with Anthony (Crolla), and I just caught the bug at a young age. I had my first fight when I was 11. I looked up to Anthony, and that was all I ever wanted to do.
Favourite all-time fighter:
Floyd Mayweather when I was coming up. But I was also a massive James DeGale fan. He was the reason I switched to southpaw because he was one as well. DeGale was always my favourite fighter. I was there when George Groves beat him. I was gutted.
Best fight you’ve seen:
The best fight I have ever seen live is the first fight between Carl Froch and George Groves in Manchester. What a fight that was. The atmosphere in there is one of my fondest memories in boxing. Anthony boxed on the undercard as well.
Personal career highlight:
My debut at the Manchester Arena against Joe Hardy last year on the (Mauricio) Lara vs. (Leigh) Wood card. I remember warming up, I wasn’t nervous all week, but I saw my picture on the big screen through the gap in the curtain, and I thought, What the hell have I done here?
Toughest opponent:
I boxed a few really good amatuers. I fought Will Cawley, who boxed for Team GB. Will was a tough opponent.
Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My best is I am heavy-handed. Power is something you either have or you don’t have. I don’t think you can teach it. My worst attribute is that I like to fight and get involved too much. But there will come a time when I will have to listen and box to instructions.
Training tip:
You can’t cheat the grind. You get found out. You can’t cut corners. The extra percentages you put in pay off in the fights. You can’t have any doubts when you go in there. You can’t fake boxing.
Favourite meal/restaurant:
My favourite meal is actually a roast dinner. My favourite restaurant is Almost Famous; the burgers there are unbelievable.
Best friends in boxing:
Anthony Crolla. I am with him every single day. He is my coach and my brother. Obviously, all my gym mates as well.
Which other athlete would you like to be:
Roger Federer. He is the coolest man to ever grace the earth.
Last film/TV show you saw:
Kin, on the BBC. It’s an Irish gangster series starring Emmett J. Scanlan.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
Tom Hardy. I think he is a really good actor. I liked him in Legend, where he played both of the Kray twins.
Have you ever been starstruck:
When I met Floyd Mayweather. That was the first time I thought, Wow. But now, as I have got older, I just can’t stand him.
Last time you cried:
After my professional debut. I think it was just the relief and all the emotions. I had done it after my break from boxing, and I was now back. I’d fallen off the rails a little bit, and being back in there, I think it was just the relief. It was a nice moment after the fight. They were not sad tears. They were happy ones.
Best advice received:
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. I remember my old amateur coach telling me that, and I learned that lesson the hardest way. I stopped working hard and started getting beat by fighters I shouldn’t have.
Worst rumour about yourself:
That I am Anthony Crolla’s son. I am just his little brother. He was fuming. He said I’d have been thirteen when he’d have had me. I thought it was dead funny.
Something not many people know about you:
I am the biggest Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter fan. I must watch them every month. I watch Lord of the Rings films all way through at least once a month.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years:
Still boxing and hopefully topping the bill. I want to be the main event. I think I will win a British title at the very least. I think I will go under the radar a little bit. I have massive self-belief that I will do something in the sport.
What one thing would you change in boxing:
The politics with promoters and the fights not happening. I just want the best fighting the best. I think we will start seeing a lot of the prospects having to fight each other, and that will benefit the sport if they do.