Amir Khan vehemently denied Terence Crawford's accusation that he quit on their WBO welterweight title bout after receiving a low blow from the champion.
Crawford had already floored Khan in the first round when, in the sixth, he caught his opponent with an accidental shot to the groin.
Khan took a couple of minutes to recover before declaring himself unable to continue as he and trainer Virgil Hunter took the decision to end the fight amid boos from the Madison Square Garden crowd.
Crawford, ahead on all three cards, was awarded a TKO, extending his perfect record to 35-0, and in the subsequent media conference Khan was asked if he had given up.
"I would never quit, I would rather be knocked out. I'm one of those fighters where I'd rather be knocked out in fights," Khan said.
"I have been knocked out in fights because I've tried to win fights."
Crawford then interrupted, saying: "You didn't quit? Tell the truth. So what happened?"
"No, I didn't quit. I was hit with a low blow," Khan said, to which Crawford replied: "You quit with a shot in your leg?"
"The leg? I was hit in the balls," came Khan's riposte.
"I've not seen the replay, but it was a low blow. If you guys think I quit, no problem. He was the better fighter and beat me tonight."
