Richard Schaefer
Thank you very much. And thank you to all the media to be on today’s call. I’m really excited. My first boxing conference call after almost three years out of the sport. So, I’m really excited to be at it again.
And what better way to do it than with a double header like this? It’s rare enough to have a match up like Jesus Cuellar versus Abner Mares, which has fight of the year written all over it.
On May 21, three of the four world championships in the hot junior middleweight division were contested as Erislandy Lara defended his WBA title with a unanimous decision over Vanes Martirosyan; Jermall Charlo defended his IBF title with a unanimous decision over former champion Austin Trout and Jermell Charlo scored a come-from-behind stoppage over John Jackson to capture the WBC belt.
(Photo credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME) Julian Williams secured the IBF’s No. 1 position at 154 pounds and called out Junior Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo after an impressive seventh-round TKO of Italian Marcello Matano Saturday on SHOWTIME from Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.
The undefeated Philadelphia native put on a clinic, breaking down his opponent from the opening bell until referee Gary Rosato stepped in to protect a defenseless Matano (16-2, 5 KOs) at 2:24 of the seventh. Williams (23-0-1, 14 KOs) utilized a steady diet of combos, jabs and body shots in the middle rounds to weaken Matano and set up the big shots to close the show in the seventh. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: http://s.sho.com/1QzbBBb
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.
As we see out the year of 2014, boxing fans will look back and be nothing more than truly excited about the year to come.
Whilst there may not have been many real legacy defining super-fights, many new contenders have emerged, ready to pose a threat to those that dominate. Some divisions have opened up and could be conquered by anyone, while others have contenders vying for an imperious champion.
At featherweight a true legend in Nonito Donaire was put away by Nicholas Walters. Sergey Kovalev was not able to do the same to Bernard Hopkins, but he showed he is a worthy successor to the oldest champion in boxing history.