TERENCE CRAWFORD dispatched another challenger for his WBO welterweight title. At Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday (December 14) he knocked Egidijus Kavaliauskasย down three times on his way to securing a stoppage win in the ninth round.
โI thought I had to entertain yaโll for a little bit. Heโs a strong fighter, durable, and I thought Iโd give the crowd something to cheer for,” Crawford said. โI wasnโt hurt at all. I got up and went straight to him. I wasnโt hurt by no means. I walked through everything he threw all night.โ
Crawford wants to secure a big name opponent, which could prove tricky given that Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence are represented by rival promoters. Crawford however declared, โIโm not ducking anyone on the PBC side or Top Rank platform. I want to fight all the top guys.โ
Teofimo Lopez scored a stunning win when he ripped the IBF lightweight title away from Richard Commey in just two rounds. โIโm at a loss for words right now. This isย a dream come true,” Lopezย said. “[Commey] is a bad man. His shot couldโve done the same to me if he hit me with that shot.
โYou all know who I want to fight next. 2020 is going to be a big year. โThe Takeoverโ has arrived, and you havenโt seen anything yet.โ
Vasyl Lomachenko and a battle for the undisputed lightweight crown is Lopezโs target.
After a controversial loss to Russiaโs Vladimir Nikitin in the last Olympic Games, Michael Conlan rematched him over 10 rounds as a professional. Conlan took a points win, 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 for the judges.
โIt was a lot of pressure going into that fight, but itโs nice to get it done. I just needed to get that one back,” Conlan said. โI needed to right this wrong. Full credit to Nikitin, who fought his heart out. Thereโs no bad blood. Thereย never was. Now, we can put this chapter of my career behind me.โ