Anthony Crolla ‘devastated’ after loss to Vasyl Lomachenko

ANTHONY CROLLA emerged from a conclusive fourth-round stoppage by Vasyl Lomachenko with his health and pride intact, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

Crollaโ€™s challenge for the WBA and WBO lightweight titles held by Lomachenko ended in brutally one-sided fashion in the early hours of Saturday morning at Los Angelesโ€™ Staples Center.

The former world champion from Manchester survived a standing eight-count in the third but the fight was over a round later.

vasiliy lomachenko, right, was too good for anthony crolla
Vasiliy Lomachenko, right, was too good for Anthony Crolla (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

โ€œAnthonyโ€™s fine. Obviously it was a heavy knockout โ€“ a temple shot he didnโ€™t see,โ€ Hearn told Sky Sports.

โ€œAfter he was counted out he got up and was fine. But heโ€™s devastated. He said: โ€˜Iโ€™m just so gutted for the team because of the work they didโ€™. Iโ€™m like: โ€˜Donโ€™t worry about the team, you just fought pound for pound number oneโ€™.

โ€œEverybody said to him โ€“ (promoter) Bob Arum, every fighter at ringside โ€“ โ€˜Thereโ€™s no disgrace in that, mateโ€™.

vasyl lomachenko defeats anthony crolla

โ€œYouโ€™re mandatory challenger, what else are you going to do? You get a shot at Lomachenko, youโ€™ve got to take it. But he was just too good.

โ€œThe third round was a weird one because he was sitting on the ropes. I thought it was a poor stoppage because although he wasnโ€™t particularly in the fight, it was a poor stoppage.

โ€œUnfortunately in the fourth round Crolla knew he had to do something and go for it. When you do that against Lomachenko, you leave yourself wide open with gaps. Lomachenko was too good for Anthony.

vasiliy lomachenko celebrates his victory
Vasiliy Lomachenko celebrates his victory (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

โ€œThis shot came against the head, you canโ€™t not take this opportunity. Losing to Lomachenko is never a disgrace.

โ€œHe can have zero regrets because he prepared the best he could, itโ€™s just about levels. Who is going to beat Lomachenko?โ€

Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic champion, justified his overwhelming favourite status with a clinical 13th win of his professional career.

โ€œI want Mikey Garcia. I want to unify titles. Thatโ€™s my goal. I want historic fights,โ€ Lomachenko said.

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