Lightweight Terence "Bud" Crawford, who won three fights in 2014, has been voted fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Crawford's biggest win came at home in Omaha, Nebraska, against former Olympic gold medalist Yuriokis Gamboa. Crawford won the Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year award in a vote by members of the BWAA.

He won the WBO version of the 135-pound title with a unanimous decision over Ricky Burns in Scotland, defended against Gamboa and added another win over Ray Beltran to cap his year.

Crawford edged out light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, who also won three fights in 2014, including a victory over Bernard Hopkins.

The award will be presented at the BWAA annual dinner in April in New York City.