Terence Crawford smashed out David Avanesyan to retain his WBO welterweight world title.

Posted 1 years ago

Terence Crawford (39-0, 30KO) comfortably retained his WBO welterweight world title with a sixth-round knockout of challenger David Avanesyan (29-4-1, 17KO) in-front of 18,000 hometown fans assembled at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

The American southpaw, Terence Crawford demolished his rival Russian opponent with a left uppercut-right hook combination for his 10th successive knockout and 30th career KO.

Prior to the stoppage, Crawford was in full command despite hard constant pressure from Avanesyan, the European champ who had won six straight bouts (including stoppages of then-unbeaten Kerman Lejarraga and Josh Kelly) since suffering a sixth-round TKO at the heavy hands of Egidijus Kavaliauskas in February 2018.

Avanesyan appeared to be an aggressive underdog and he didn't disappoint in that department. He tried to take the fight to Crawford in the early going, staying in his face and throwing power punches that were mostly avoided by Crawford.

But that good start for Avanesyan just meant that Crawford understood he had to dial up the pressure. Once he started letting his hands go it was clear why Bud is considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.