Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Anthony Crolla

Background

Top Rank president Todd duBoef confirmed on December 12, 2018, that Vasiliy Lomachenko, the unified lightweight champion, would step back into the ring on April 12, 2019, at Staples Center. At that time, Richard Commey and Isa Chaniev were scheduled to compete for the vacant IBF lightweight title, and the winner was expected to meet Lomachenko in what would be his second unification bout. Top Rank planned to finalize an agreement with promoter Lou DiBella for Commey versus Chaniev on February 2 at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas.

By late January, the purse bid deadline for Lomachenko versus Anthony Crolla was moved to February 6, 2019, with a minimum offer of $150,000. Commey beat Chaniev to claim the IBF belt but injured his hand, sidelining him from training for at least two months. This forced Top Rank to look for another opponent.

On February 20, it was announced that Lomachenko would defend his WBA (Super), WBO, and The Ring titles against Crolla on April 12 at Staples Center. The entire card streamed exclusively on ESPN+ to mark the service’s first anniversary. Crolla made his U.S. debut; he had only fought once outside the UK before.

The fight

Lomachenko began out-throwing Crolla in the second round and became dominant in the third, forcing Crolla against the ropes. With 11 seconds left in the round, referee Jack Reiss interrupted Lomachenko's combination. Lomachenko and the crowd believed Reiss had stopped the fight, and Lomachenko celebrated by jumping on the corner ropes. Reiss corrected the misunderstanding, forced out commissioners who had entered the ring, and resumed after a 10-second count for Crolla, though the round ended with one second remaining.

Between rounds, Reiss explained he had called a technical knockdown, not a stoppage, because the ropes aided Crolla in standing. In the fourth round, Crolla briefly rallied but was knocked down by a right hook to the temple, falling face-first. After a three-to-four-second count, Reiss waved off the fight, giving Lomachenko the win and retaining his titles.

Did You Know?

• Crolla was unable to participate in post-fight interviews but did not immediately go to hospital.
• Following the win, Lomachenko was linked to both Commey and WBC No. 1 contender Luke Campbell.