Anthony Crolla's rollercoaster career dipped so low he almost quit four years ago, but on Saturday he believes it will hit new heights.
The Briton defends his WBA world lightweight title against Venezuela's Jorge Linares (40-3, 27 KOs) in front of Crolla's home fans at the Manchester Arena.
The winner will be acclaimed the division's No. 1 but four years ago Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) was contemplating a change of jobs following defeats to British rivals Derry Mathews and Gary Sykes.
The 29-year-old was then left on the brink of retirement in Decemeber 2014 when he suffered a fractured skull and broken ankle after he interrupted a neighbour's house from being burgled and was attacked. Crolla had caught up with the burglars, who then hit him with a concrete slab.
"It's tough to put into words how my career has changed, it's been a right rollercoaster," Crolla told ESPN. "I've never doubted I could get to this level but it looked very unlikely at various points of my career.
"I never once thought about packing it in but when I fought Kieran Farrell in 2012 my career was on the line and there was a job waiting for me to start on the Monday morning, because it would have been hard to come back if I had lost that make or break fight.
"I've come so far in four years and I would be lying to say I thought I would be fighting the likes of Linares for the world title back then. I thought I might have to retire a couple years ago as well with injuries."
Linares has not fought for nearly a year because of a fractured right hand and was stripped of the WBC belt because of his lay-off.
Despite entering Saturday's fight as challenger, Linares is still widely regarded as the world's leading lightweight and last year stopped Londoner Kevin Mitchell.
But Crolla has been in inspired form since lifting the WBA belt and makes a second defence against Linares after two knockout wins over Darleys Perez and Ismael Barroso.
"I feel with my momentum now I can achieve anything," Crolla said. "Confidence is a great thing to be running on and I'm a happy fighter.
"You grow as a fighter and a person. I've matured later than other fighters and I've made a few tweaks in training which has helped too.
"I've changed my strength and conditioning work and do things like yoga as well, which has helped me in the ring. The general conception is that Linares is No. 1 at the weight and I see beating him will make me the main man.
"I feel better than ever right now. Arguably Linares is number one in the division, but I believe it's myself and others would argue otherwise. On Saturday we will find out who is the best."
Linares, 31, was last in action when he knocked out Ivan Cano in four rounds, but Crolla says the lay-off is irrelevant and plans to box clever against his dangerous challenger who has registered four successive stoppage wins in four different countries.
"I've watched him for years, even before I thought I might fight him, and technically he's brilliant," Crolla said. "He's had a bit of time out but he looked sharp in training in the video he put on social media so he's been working hard.
"He likes to fight at his pace and I can't allow that and I've got to be switched on from the opening bell. I can't be lazy because he's a good counter puncher.
"I have to use my brain in this fight. I've been working hard on my boxing ability and my angles because he's too good to walk in straight lines."
Crolla visited the Manchester United training ground last week and hopes some of the players will be ringside to cheer him on at the Manchester Arena after the English Premier League side's game with Leicester City earlier in the day.
"As a United fan it was very special to be able to watch them train, meet a few of the players and the manager," Crolla added. "I don't definitely know who is coming and we've got Leicester that day but hopefully Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young will be there.
"The crowd in Manchester gives me that extra gear and they will be better than ever. I just want to do them proud and give them a good night."
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