Crawford crushes Kavaliauskas in ninth round to retain WBO title

Terence Crawford survived some early jitters to retain his WBO welterweight title with a ninth round knockout of former Olympian Egidijus Kavaliauskas at Madison Square Garden.

Crawford, who improved to 36-0 with 27 knockouts, survived a scare in the third round before finding his rhythm in the fifth, knocking the Lithuanian down once in the seventh, and then twice in the final round.

In a tougher than expected tussle, heavy Crawford finished the heavy underdog challenger off with a right hook to the left ear 44 seconds into the ninth.

"When I let my hands go that's when I started landing more favourable shots," the American said.

"After I dropped him with my uppercut I was like, I am going to face his jab, and come out with my right hook."
"I wasn't hurt at all. I went straight for him. He caught me with a good punch."
"I am not ducking anybody. Listen man, everybody knows who I want to fight. I don't have to name names. I want all the top guys."
"I'm at a loss for words right now. This is a dream come true," said Lopez, 15-0 with 12 KOs. "(Commey) is a bad man. His shot could've done the same to me if he hit me with that shot."