Venezuela's Jorge Linares retained his WBA lightweight title on Saturday on a unanimous points decision against big-hearted Anthony Crolla of Britain.
Linares had Crolla on the canvas in the seventh round but the British fighter showed great determination and grit to last the 12-round distance.
Linares was declared the winner 118-109 on all three of the judges' scorecards.
The Venezuelan had also beaten 30-year-old Crolla in September and now has a record of 42 wins against just three losses.
"Jorge Linares is a great fighter and a great champion," Crolla said of an opponent who has not lost for five years.
"He's proved that again tonight. He caught me with a great shot. Before that I was trying to close the distance and I thought that I was going to get to him but he moved very well. I can say I got beat off the better man. No excuses."
Linares hailed his opponent.
"I want to tell everyone in Manchester, Anthony Crolla has some big balls. He had a lot of heart and that's why he made it to the 12th round with me," said the Venezuelan.
Now Linares wants WBC champion Mikey Garcia and WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko.
"I would love to fight Mikey Garcia and Lomachenko," Linares said to ESPN Deportes. "Garcia is the fight I really want because he's a very good fighter, a very good champion and, most importantly, he's undefeated. I would have all the motivation to take that undefeated record from him."
"[Lomachenko] is a very, very good fighter, very fast fighter, very intelligent. But I feel I am faster. He fights with very good angles, but I think I can show things he hasn't seen with my angles and my speed. Hopefully, he goes up to 135 and between Ismael Salas and myself we could prepare a game plan to defeat him.
"Those are fights I see myself winning. Am I capable of beating Mikey Garcia and Vasyl Lomachenko? Right now I can beat both of them!"
