The main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes showcased Julian Williams (21-0-1, 13 KOs) as he knocked out Luciano Cuello (35-4, 17 KOs) in the very first round of their contest. At the one minute 33-second mark of the first round Williams proved too much for Cuello.
The opening televised bout featured Mexico’s Moises Flores (24-0, 17 KOs) in an action-packed brawl against Argentina’s Luis Cusolito (21-2, 19 KOs). During a battle that allowed both fighters to appear in control at times, Flores managed to withstand 11 rounds of damage and sealed the deal with a 12th round knockout over Cusolito.
Caleb Plant (10-0, 8 KOs) went the distance in the second televised bout and secured a unanimous decision (80-71, 79-72, 80-71) victory over Jamar Freeman (13-5-2, 7 KOs).
Here is what the televised fighters had to say about their performances:
JULIAN WILLIAMS
“I may be the fastest super welterweight in the world, and I’m accurate enough to hit guys when I want to.
“I knew I was getting to him early and I just stayed vicious. It was a straight right that I landed on him to end things. I saw his left eye bubble up immediately.
“I’ve fought undefeated prospects and former champions. I’ll fight anybody. I don’t hate (Austin) Trout at all. He’s just higher ranked than me and one of the guys in my way.”
LUCIANO CUELLO
“It was a right to the head that ended things. I felt my eye closing up. I felt like I might have been able to continue, but my balance was a little thrown off after he landed the right to my left eye.
“I disagreed with the stoppage when I was in the moment, but I’ll go back and watch the fight to take another look at it.
“I’ve fought some great fighters in my career, and Williams is as strong as any of them.
MOISES FLORES
“I won this fight because of how I prepared. This was all about my preparation and dedication in the gym. I left my home in Mexico and went to Miami for 10 weeks to train for this fight. We didn’t do exactly what we planned, but my conditioning helped me get through this battle tonight.
“I’m very happy to get this interim title, but I want a shot at Leo Santa Cruz next. I’ll go up to 126 pounds to make that happen if he wants.
“This was a huge jump for me being on a PBC card and fighting on FS1 and FOX Deportes. Great fighters get this honor and it feels wonderful to be a part of a card like this.”
EMANUEL CUSOLITO
“I hurt my hand in the second round.
“He is a very strong champion. I was fighting hard but the ref thought I had taken too many punches. I could have continued. He is a great champion though. I want to come back and show my skills and heart to my fans from Argentina.
“I thought in several rounds, I was going to knock him out, but maybe I was over confident. He has a great chin.”
CALEB PLANT
“I was relaxed and composed in there tonight. I had him hurt so I pressed him more, but he’s a tough fighter.
“I dropped him in the third with a left hook, and so I used that as a opportunity to pursue him more, but he hung tough.
“This is a blessing to be a part of what Al (Haymon) is doing for boxing. Brining it back to free TV is huge. To be involved in something like this so early in my career helps me get great exposure.”
JAMAR FREEMAN
“”I couldn’t find my rhythm. I got to him a few times but I didn’t let my hands go.
“I am a natural 154 pound fighter, so he was able to walk me down and walk right through my punches. His power did not get to me at all though.
“Caleb is a good fighter. He can go a long way as long as he stays focused. He has real good timing.”
