Many were wondering whether Terence Crawford would have any ring rust in his first fight since November 2021. The WBO welterweight champion knew he needed to make a statement in his hometown of Omaha, Neb. He did that, and then some.
Crawford knocked out a game David Avanesyan in the sixth round Saturday night at the CHI Heath Center. The fight was produced by BLK Prime. It was the 10th Crawford fight in a row to end via finish. The champ now has 30 wins via knockout.
"I was just warming up in the earlier rounds," Crawford said after the fight. "I just started picking up the pace, planting my seeds, and hit him with the hook. We knew what he was going to bring to the table, from orthodox to southpaw."
Crawford was the aggressor throughout the contest. He landed pitch-perfect right hands, fighting through Avanesyan's defense. Avanesyan landed crisp shots in Round 2, and some observers may have even given him that round, but he would never gain another edge in the fight after that.
MORE: How much money will Crawford make for Avanesyan fight?
Crawford did his best Floyd Mayweather impression during the fight, landing shots while also showcasing great defense. In Round 4, Avanesyan landed a right and an uppercut but Crawford stormed back with body shots. With his front foot forward, Crawford landed open blows to Avanesyan's body.
It was clear that Crawford was getting into the head of Avanesyan as he jabbed away. There was cause for concern in Round 6 as the padding in Crawford's gloves began to come out. The fight continued, with no questions from Avanesyan's corner. As Avanesyan was going for a shot, Crawford countered with an uppercut and a right hook that put Avanesyan down for the count.
It was the sixth successful defense of the WBO title for Crawford. Up next is a potential bout against WBC, IBF and WBA champion Errol Spence Jr., who was in a car accident earlier in the night. He appears to be OK, per his social media.
"I'm a free agent," said Crawford, who left Top Rank not long ago and worked with BLK Prime to produce this fight. "This is a one-fight deal. Hopefully we can go to the drawing board and hope for big fights in the near future."
The Sporting News provided live analysis from Crawford vs. Avanesyan.
Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan live results, updates
Terence Crawford knocks David Avanesyan out in return fight
Round 6: The padding is coming out of Crawford's gloves, but the fight continues. Uppercut by Crawford. Right hook by Avanesyan, which forces Crawford to land a few safe shots. Another uppercut by Crawford. Body shots by Crawford and a right hand that drops Avanesyan down the floor. It was a counter left uppercut and a right hook. Crawford def. Avanesyan via KO 2:14 into Round 6.
Round 5: Crawford jabs away from the southpaw stance. Avanesyan tries to suffocate him in the corner, but Crawford won't give in. Uppercut by Crawford connects to the body as Crawford doesn't appear to have any ring rust. Left by Avanesyan connects, but Crawford counters with body shots. Right by Avanesyan, but Crawford jabs away.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9, Crawford (49-46, Crawford)
Round 4: Both fighters are trading inside shots to the face. Right hand by Crawford sneaks through the defense of Avanesyan. Avanesyan now lands a right and an uppercut, but Crawford storms back. Back in front, Crawford lands body shots. With his front foot forward, Crawford lands open shots to the body and head.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9, Crawford (39-37, Crawford)
Round 3: Avanesyan tries for the body. Crawford counters with a crisp right. Crawford jabs away in the clinch. He then lands combinations and a body shot. "Bud" backs up but continues to land shots, playing defense and offense. Right body shot by Crawford.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9, Crawford (29-28, Crawford)
Round 2: Avanesyan is attempting to strike as Crawford's defense is impeccable. Now, Avanesyan is coming forward and landing crisp shots to the face. Crawford counters. Avanesyan is holding his own.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9, Avanesyan (19-19)
Round 1: Crawford comes out hot with the right hand. An overhand right by Crawford, who is stalking Avanesyan. Counter right by Crawford, who is backing up just a tiny bit.
SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9, Crawford
11:45 p.m. ET: Crawford is getting a standing ovation from the hometown crowd. The main event is NOW!
11:35 p.m. ET: David Avanesyan is making his way to the ring. Terence Crawford will follow for the main event.
Former referee Mills Lane, who died on Dec. 6, is given a 10-bell salute and a moment of silence.
11:20 p.m. ET: Cyborg reaches for hard shots right away in Round 1. She lands shots to the body followed by a big right hand. In Round 2, Cyborg gets pushed back but lands a big uppercut before the end of the round. Huge right by Cyborg in Round 3. Combinations by Cyborg, and Holloway is down. Cyborg continues her attack in Round 4, running straight toward Holloway. Cyborg def. Holloway via unanimous decision (40-35, 39-36, 40-34).
11:05 p.m. ET: Bellator champion Cris Cyborg is about to make her U.S. pro boxing debut against Gabrielle Holloway.
Christy Martin is here to talk about Cyborg's debut and offers some advice.
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— BLK PRIME BOXING - A NEW ERA OF BOXING HAS BEGUN (@BLKPRIMEBOXING) December 11, 2022
10:55 p.m. ET: Khegai had a point deducted Round 9 after being warned many times throughout the fight for holding. Khegai def. Baez via split decision (96-93, 94-95, 95-94).
10:45 p.m. ET: Khegai has Baez in the corner. The former gets hit with a shot by his ear but he recovers in Round 4. As the fight goes on, the referee is halting the action just when things pick up. Khegai is playing it close to the vest now as Baez tries to find an opening. Baez lands crisp shots in the latter part of the fight, with combinations to the face in Round 8.
10:20 p.m. ET: The Ukrainian, Khegai, was aggressive to start, landing shots to the back of Baez's head. Jabs and body shots land. By Round 3, Khegai is dissecting Baez's body. Baez is then tossed to the ground and Khegai is being warned.
10 p.m. ET: Arnold Khegai vs. Eduardo Baez is up next.
9:45 p.m. ET: By Round 3, Calloway is stalking Milton. Milton has Calloway by the corner and is attacking the body. Low blow to Calloway in Round 5. The fight goes the distance following multiple close shots while both men lumbered. Milton def. Calloway unanimous decision (59-55, 59-55, 58-56).
9:25 p.m. ET: Dajuan Calloway vs. Jeremiah Milton in a heavyweight bout is up next. Both are attempting to strike one another down right away. Calloway lands a few jabs that back Milton up.
9:15 p.m. ET: Steven Nelson vs. James Ballard opens the main card. Ballard gets dropped with 16 seconds left in Round 1 and the fight is called off. Nelson wins via KO 2:41 into Round 1.
SO DAMN COLD #CrawfordAvanesyan
— BLK PRIME BOXING - A NEW ERA OF BOXING HAS BEGUN (@BLKPRIMEBOXING) December 11, 2022
TONIGHT - DEC 10 | @BLKPRIMEBOXING
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THE MAIN CARD HAS STARTED!
8:40 p.m. ET: Edel Gomez and Joseph Aguilar face off to end the prelim portion of the PPV event. Aguilar is dropped in the first round. Another body shot lands in the second round and the fight is over via TKO.
8:30 p.m. ET: Javier Mayoral vs. Boubacar Sylla is up next. Mayoral def. Sylla via unanimous decision (58-56, 58-56, 58-57) to end Sylla's undefeated streak.
7:55 p.m. ET: Alan Garcia with a stoppage win over Eduardo Pereira in Round 3 after dropping Pereira with a hook to the head.
7:40 p.m. ET: Alan Garcia vs. Eduardo Pereira Dos Reis in undercard action is about to begin.
7:30 p.m. ET: Alton Alik Wiggins and Phillip Carmouche fight to a draw.
Welcome to The Sporting News' Crawford vs. Avanesyan coverage.
Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan fight card
- Terence Crawford (c) def. David Avanesyan via KO for the WBO welterweight title (2:14 into Round 6).
- Cris Cyborg def. Gabrielle Holloway via unanimous decision (40-35, 39-36, 40-34).
- Arnold Khegai def. Eduardo Baez via split decision (96-93, 94-95, 95-94).
- Jeremiah Milton def. Dajuan Calloway via unanimous decision (59-55, 59-55, 58-56).
- Steven Nelson def. James Ballard via KO (2:41 into Round 1).
- Edel Gomez def. Joseph Aguilar via TKO (Round 2).
- Javier Mayoral def. Boubacar Sylla via unanimous decision (58-56, 58-56, 58-57).
- Alan Garcia def. Eduardo Pereira via TKO (Round 3).
- Alton Alik Wiggins and Phillip Carmouche fight to a draw.