Flores led the action from the opening bell, both outboxing and out brawling Lucero (18-1, 14 KOs).
“This is beautiful. I have to thank God for all of this, because I wouldn’t have fought with so much faith without him,” said Flores.
“I was given two weeks’ notice for this fight, but it didn’t matter. This was about many years of training hard, of prayer and sleepless nights. This is the fruit of that labor.”
Flores turned the heat up in the eighth round, wobbling Lucero with a right hand. Lucero never quit trying but came up short on this night.
“We knew Lucero just liked to come forward, very one-dimensional,” said Flores. “So, I focused on being patient and on my sideways movement.”
“My rival was the better man tonight. He came to steal the night and came with everything,” Lucero acknowledged.
“I have no excuses for tonight. I had a great preparation and I just fell short. The better man won. I am going to jump back into the gym, and we will see what happens next.”
Michael Bishop / Premier Boxing Champions