BRADLEY REA still remembers the night that lit something inside him.
He was 16 years old, one of thousands packed inside Manchester Arena on April 19, 2014, when local heroes Anthony Crolla and John Murray went head-to-head for city bragging rights. The fight lived up to its billing — a high-octane contest at lightweight between two friends and former sparring partners. Murray had been trained by Joe Gallagher but now Crolla had him in corner. The veteran Murray gave his all, Crolla won and went on to become a world champion, but for a young Rea in the stands, the impression was lasting.
Eleven years later, Rea now has his own “battle of Manchester”. On Saturday night at the city’s Co-op Live Arena, he defends his European light-heavyweight title against Lyndon Arthur in the chief support to Joshua Buatsi versus Zach Parker — a fight that could easily steal the show.
During an interview with Boxing News, Rea recalled that night in 2014 and the moment that helped shape his boxing ambition.
“One fight which really stuck in my mind when I got offered this was Crolla v Murray and going to it as a fan and being in the crowd and watching,” he said. “We used to go to the arena all the time watching the fights. It was different that night. It was a different atmosphere and there was a buzz around the city which was really split down the middle.
“When this fight got put to me I thought back to that night and being a kid in the crowd and saying, ‘I want to be in a fight like this one day.’ This was my chance. These opportunities don’t come around very often. It’s two elite lads in the same weight, from the same city. I couldn’t not take this fight.”
Rea’s self-belief has never been in question, but since claiming the European title against Shakan Pitters in July, his confidence has soared. That victory — a breakthrough performance over 12 rounds — not only brought him a belt but also a promotional deal with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
“This is the place to be, especially for the light heavyweights,” Rea said in a statement announcing the move.
He’s not wrong. Queensberry currently boast one of the strongest light-heavyweight stables in world boxing, with eight names on their roster — including Rea, Buatsi, Parker and Liam Cameron, all featuring on the same bill this weekend.
For Rea, joining the team confirmed what he had long believed.
“It’s nice to have the reassurance that I wasn’t kidding myself,” he said. “I’ve always believed I’d get to this point and be on these big shows. It was a little bit of a relief. I told myself you’re gonna get there, it’s gonna pay off. That win opened so many doors that were closed before.”
Now 26, Rea also feels he’s entering a new stage in his career — one where he finally has some control.
“I know the ball’s in my court for probably the first time in my career,” he said. “People want what I’ve got and I can dictate a little bit. It’s nice because I’ve never had that before.”
Standing in the opposite corner this weekend is Arthur, 34, a seasoned campaigner who has shared the ring with Dmitry Bivol and Anthony Yarde. The Manchester veteran has been here before, and he has questioned whether the fight means more to Rea than it does to him — a comment that Rea took as a sign of complacency.
“I think it does mean more to me than it means to him,” Rea admitted. “That’s what I think anyway, and clearly he agrees. To me, that’s negativity from him. It’s like he’s overlooking me a little bit. Lyndon’s known me a long time — he remembers me being a skinny 16-year-old kid fighting in amateur championships. I’m not that kid anymore.
“He’s boxed Bivol, he’s boxed Yarde, he’s been to Saudi Arabia. But if he’s overlooking me even just a little bit, I think he’s going to regret that on fight night.”
A win for Rea could open the door to further domestic blockbusters within the Queensberry ranks and perhaps even a world title push down the line. Frank Warren will be watching closely, and the champion knows this is his chance to make a lasting impression.
“I’ve got to make myself stand out somehow,” Rea said. “I’ve got to make Frank sit up and go, hang on a minute, this kid’s not just making up the numbers. We can really back this kid. We can get him headlining in Manchester one day.
“Just getting the win isn’t enough. I’ve got to make people sit up and take note because it’s a stacked division. I’m confident I can do that.”
