Martin Gethin waits on British title

Walsall's Martin Gethin today revealed he could be willing to fill the breach if Anthony Crolla's gamble with the British lightweight title backfires.

Champion Crolla has been ordered to defend his crown against selected challenger Willie Limond on October 15, but will still box an eight-rounder in Las Vegas on September 17.

Crolla had been due to face former three-weight world champion Erik Morales in the United States, but the Mexican legend called off the bout for a shot at the vacant WBC light welterweight title on the same show.

Eager not to miss his chance to make an impact Stateside, Crolla is adamant he will still be a part of the show and is getting ready to fight.

But, should he suffer an injury that puts him out of his October defence, the British Boxing Board of Control will strip Crolla of the belt and find a co-challenger to face Limond for the vacant British title.

The board want the belt to be contested on the night specified at the Bolton Arena, on a Sky Sports bill under Ricky Hatton's promotional banner.

Gethin has been out for 16 months with a back injury but hit the comeback trail by returning to full training two weeks ago and, before he was sidelined, was the reigning English champion.

The 27-year-old was even selected by the board for a British title eliminator against Gary McArthur but, because of his injury, the fight never happened.

And Gethin admits that, if a series of events unfolded that saw him get the call to box for the belt, it could entice him into the ring.

He said: "I feel like I am getting fitter quickly and, if I felt really good at the time, I would go for it.

"It's a hard one to call, but I will be keeping my eye on it.

"Hopefully, whatever happens, sooner or later I will get my shot."

Gethin knows about the experience of boxing in Vegas, having competed at the MGM Grand in December 2007.

His fourth-round stoppage of Mexican Fabian Luque, who had 21 wins on his record going into the fight, put him on the map.

With that in mind, Gethin can understand why Crolla is so desperate to box on, but warns it is a risk.

He said: "If it was me, I wouldn't have bothered doing it because anything can happen, being as you have got to defend the title as well.

"I can see why he wants to box over there because if you get known by the Americans, it can open up for you.

"I loved it and, hopefully, I can do it again one day. I hadn't really boxed anyone before I went over there, so I couldn't believe it when I got the call."