Vasyl Lomachenko seals knockout win over Anthony Crolla

The two-time Olympic champion justified his heavy favourite tag and Lomachenko chalked up a routine win at the Staples Center in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Crolla had been looking to pull off one of the biggest upsets in boxing, but he was on the back foot from the start.

After surviving a standing eight-count in the third after a barrage of punches, Crolla failed to hang on much longer.

Referee Jack Reiss intervened and waved after the fight 58 seconds into the fourth round when Crolla was floored by a brutal right hook from Lomachenko.

Crolla’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, admitted Lomachenko was too classy on the night.

He said: “Anthony’s fine. Obviously it was a heavy knockout - a temple shot he didn't see.

“He said: 'I'm just so gutted for the team because of the work they did'. I'm like: 'Don't worry about the team, you just fought the pound-for-pound number one'.

"The third round was a weird one because he was sitting on the ropes. I thought it was a poor stoppage because although he wasn't particularly in the fight, it was a poor stoppage.

"Unfortunately in the fourth round Crolla knew he had to do something and go for it. When you do that against Lomachenko, you leave yourself wide open with gaps. Lomachenko was too good for Anthony.

"This shot came against the head; you can't not take this opportunity. Losing to Lomachenko is never a disgrace.

"He can have zero regrets because he prepared the best he could, it's just about levels. Who is going to beat Lomachenko?"

Lomachenko has now won 12 straight bouts.