Terence Crawford had to work hard… for a while.
The weight king gave up on David Avanesyan relentlessly until a brutal left-right combination ended the match in the sixth round on Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford’s hometown.
The official stoppage time is 2:14.
“My trainer told me to keep picking my punches and keep being smart with my punch placement,” Crawford said afterward. “I took him down and knocked him down with a punch that I practiced a lot in the gym.
“As soon as he put his foot on the canvas, I knew that all my hard work and preparation had paid off.”
Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) was supposed to take on Errol Spence Jr. but switched to Avanesyan (29-4-1, 17 KOs) after negotiations broke down.
Mass knockout from Terence Crawford #CrawfordAvanesyan pic.twitter.com/HYaO4se04G
– Ben Damon (@ben_damon) December 11, 2022
That is not to say that British Russians are an easygoing person. He wasn’t, as he proved over five innings against the future Hall of Famer.
Crawford controls distance with a continuous jab, which creates powerful hits and makes it difficult for Avanesyan to get close enough to land punches.
However, the challenger is not easily convinced. The brawler has pressured Crawford in every way possible and has had some success, connecting by eye-catching hits here and there.
However, Crawford increased his speed and intensity round after round. That makes things increasingly difficult for Avanesyan.
The end came suddenly. Crawford landed the ball to the left and was followed by a perfect right hook that knocked Avanesyan back and ended the game instantly. The loser was still sitting on the canvas a few minutes after the match ended.
Crawford, 35, has now stopped his last 10 opponents.
Of course, fans wish that this opponent was Spence, a title holder who also ranks high on the pound list. It’s one of the biggest matches that can happen in the sport.
Crawford was asked if that was a possibility for next year. He said he was ready to resume negotiations. So there is hope.
