Anthony Crolla has vowed to target Jorge Linares' vulnerable streak by pressuring him from the opening bell during Saturday's WBA lightweight title fight.
Linares, who represents Crolla's toughest opponent to date, was once considered one of the sport's coming talents and compared to the widely-admired Oscar De La Hoya.
His technical ability, however, has often been undermined by the perceived lack of composure that significantly contributed to his three professional defeats.
In his May 2015 WBC title defence against Kevin Mitchell, he again appeared fragile in the opening rounds and suffered a knockdown in the fifth before recovering to stop his challenger in the 10th.
Crolla believes the 31-year-old retains that vulnerability, and told Sky Sports News: "I've got to stamp my authority and gain that little bit of respect from him early on.
"I have got to be patient but it's a very different fight to Ismael Barroso (who Crolla stopped in eight rounds in May). Linares will be much smarter so I can't be too patient.
"Certainly of late, the shots to the body have been kind to us. It's certainly part of my game but that's not something I'll be looking for straight away because he's got a great team around him and they'll have studied me.
"You're going to see a bit of everything - a chess match at times and a bit of a brawling slugfest at times."
Saturday's fight, at the Manchester Arena, has also been compared to that in June 2005 between Ricky Hatton and Kostya Tszyu, one in which a passionate crowd appeared influential.
That victory proved the finest of Hatton's career, and for all of the Manchester fight scene's success since, he remains its highest-profile figure.
"That was not only one of the greatest nights in Manchester boxing but in British boxing so it's great; to even be compared means an awful lot," said Crolla, 29, who on Friday outweighed Linares by three ounces when he tipped the scales at 9stones 8pounds 5ounces.
"Win on Saturday and it'll be put me on the big, big stage, which is something I really want. I'm going to be that superstar."
Source: PA
