Vasyl Lomachenko KOs Anthony Crolla in fourth round to retain WBO and WBA crowns, eyes Mikey Garcia’s belt next

Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachenko beat Britain’s Anthony Crolla inside four rounds at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Friday night to retain his WBO and WBA lightweight belts.

The bookmakers had given little hope to the Mancunian fighter against the pound-for-pound superstar and future hall of famer.

They were proved right.

Lomachenko looked to have stopped the fight in the third round with a barrage of punches but his celebrations climbing the ropes proved premature.

The referee allowed the fighters to continue as Crolla headed to the corner at the end of the round but it was only a matter of time.