Anthony Crolla has said that becoming a world champion feels 'better than a dream' after beating Darleys Perez to clinch the WBA lightweight title in Manchester on Saturday night.

The 29-year-old Mancunian landed a ferocious body shot in the fifth round to leave his Colombian counterpart on his knees and unable to make the count.

"I've dreamt this dream since I was 10 years of age," he told Sky Sports News. "I didn't know it would be this good, honestly. It's even better than I dreamt.

"I believe I am getting stronger all the time, but I thought it was going to be a head shot. I was really confident that I was going to get a head shot but I'll take that body shot any day of the week."

In December of last year, Crolla's career was hanging in the balance after being attacked by two burglars in an assault that left him with a fractured skull and broken ankle.

He was denied a winning return to the ring in July following a controversial draw against Perez.