THE MANLY ART OF KNOCKING THE OTHER GUY OUT

Crawford knocks out Avanesyan to retain WBO welterweight world title

Issued on: 11/12/2022 -

 A CLASSIC PHOTO

WBO champion Terence Crawford celebrates after knocking out David Avanesyan in the sixth round of their welterweight world title fight in Omaha, Nebraska 

© Ed Zurga / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP


Los Angeles (AFP) – Unbeaten American Terence Crawford knocked out David Avanesyan in the sixth round on Saturday to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight world title.

Crawford, fighting in front of home fans at the CHI Health Center arena in Omaha, Nebraska, sent Avanesyan sprawling with a right hook at 2:14 of the sixth, improving to 39-0 with 30 knockouts.

A former undisputed light welterweight world champion, Crawford made his sixth defense of the title he claimed when he stopped Australian Jeff Horn in the ninth round in June of 2018.

No opponent has taken Crawford the distance in more than six years.

He punished Avanesyan in the sixth with repeated left upper-cuts, finally following one short left with the right hook that knocked the challenger out cold.

Crawford's 10th straight knockout ended the six-fight winning streak of London-based Russian Avanesyan, the reigning European Champion in the 147-pound division who fell to 29-3 with one draw and 17 knockouts.

Crawford's latest victory could at last pave the way for a long-awaited matchup with fellow American Errol Spence Jr., unbeaten holder of the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles.

The two had been in talks for a meeting this year and when that failed to materialize Crawford opted for the title defense against Avanesyan that was his lone bout in 2022.

Spence, who owns a record of 28-0 with 22 knockouts, returned from surgery to repair a detached retina to score a 10th-round technical knockout of Yordenis Ugas in April to add the WBA belt to his WBC and IBF titles.

Spence had been set to fight Manny Pacquiao in August 2021 but withdrew from the matchup because of the eye injury.

It was the second major setback of Spence's career after an October 2019 car crash led to him being hospitalized.

On Saturday, Spence posted a video on Instagram saying he'd been in another car accident, showing damage to his vehicle and saying he was hit by a 14-year-old driver who had run a red light after taking his parents' car.

"It always happens to me," Spence says in the video.

Pacquiao returns to ring for clash with South Korean YouTuber

Issued on: 11/12/2022 - 

Pacquiao (R) lands one on D.K. Yoo in Goyang, South Korea, on Sunday © Jung Yeon-je / AFP


Seoul (AFP) – Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring Sunday for the first time since retiring from the sport last year, facing off against a South Korean YouTuber in an exhibition match near Seoul.

The 43-year-old fighter turned politician stepped away from boxing to launch a bid for the Philippine presidency that failed. He also served as a senator between 2016 and May this year.

On Sunday Pacquiao fought D.K. Yoo in a showcase match on the outskirts of the South Korean capital to raise money for Ukraine and homeless Filipinos.

Dressed in a shiny red robe with gold trimming, Pacquiao emerged into the KINTEX arena in Goyang to roars of excitement from the crowd.

For his opponent Yoo, a martial artist and internet star, it was only the second time in a boxing ring -- his previous encounter an exhibition match against former UFC fighter Bradley Scott.

Yoo, dubbed the "Korean Bruce Lee" in his homeland -- was no match for Pacquiao despite being significantly taller and heavier.

The South Korean was visibly tired and winded after the second round as a speedy Pacquiao moved in with an explosion of rapid-fire punches.

Pacquiao, who turns 44 next week, was the winner by unanimous decision and hinted that more appearances in the ring could lie ahead.

In a television interview, he said he would continue training to get back in shape. When asked about the prospect of a fight in 2023, he replied: "You'll see."

He had suggested prior to the match that he may not be done with fighting, calling Sunday's bout a "very good stepping stone to come back".

"This is a great opportunity to come back in the ring," he added. "I thought it was easy to retire... I really missed boxing."

Pacquiao, a multiple world champion who hung up his gloves with a 62-8-2 record after winning 12 major titles in eight weight classes, admitted: "I felt lonely when I retired from boxing."

© 2022 AFP