AUSTIN, TX  - Karim Guerfi (23-4, 6 KOs) won an electrifying 10-round bantamweight contest over Alejandro "Cobrita" Gonzalez Jr. Tuesday night on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes from Austin Music Hall in Austin, TX.

 

Gonzalez Jr. dropped Guerfi, who was making his US debut tonight, with a near-perfect kidney shot in the first round and the fight appeared to be heading for an early curtain call. Guerfi managed to rebound and the first round came to a close with Gonzalez Jr. indicating to his corner that he had sustained an injury to his right hand. But in a fight that was competitive until the last bell, Guerfi emerged victorious.

 

The opening televised bout saw Mexico's Miguel Flores (18-0, 9 KOs) defeat Ghana's Alfred Tetteh (19-5-1, 15 KOs) with a devastating second round knockout (1:10). Flores landed a left to the body that dropped Tetteh to the canvas and ended the bout shortly after the midway point of the second round.

 

The telecast's second fight featured Mario Barrios (13-0, 7 KOs) in a barnburner against Mexico's Enrique Tinoco (13-3-2, 9 KOs). Tinoco, making his US debut, put up a valiant effort in a bout that was very competitive in the early rounds. However, Barrios took control in the second half of the fight and secured a unanimous decision victory (78-74, 78-74, 78-74).

 

Here is what the televised fighters had to say about their performances tonight:

 

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ JR.

 

"I was trying to change things up heading into this fight. But my hand was broken after the first round. My mind started going crazy because of how much pain I was in. So I had to change my game plan from the end of the first round throughout the rest of the fight.

 

"I was trying to not complain about my hand, but there was only so much I could do in there with only one good hand. What I really wanted to do was knock (Guerfi) out, but he was running too much.

 

"The decision is up to the judges. If they say I lost, then I lost. I accept the decision and whatever the judges say.

 

"I don't know what's next following this loss, but I know I'm going to come back even harder next time. We're going to find out how much time my hand will need to heal and then I'll get back to training hard."

 

KARIM GUERFI

 

"My plan tonight was to move a lot. I knew (Gonzalez Jr.) could really punch. So I wanted to avoid him landing as much as I could.

 

"I'm really happy to have gotten the win here tonight in my US debut. I'm very happy for my family and my wife, and now I want more. I'm ready for an even bigger opportunity.

 

"Americans love boxing. In France, the sport is not as big. But over here I feel the passion of the fans and how much they're into it. I want to fight in front of them again.

 

"I hope the public in the US liked watching me fight on FS1 and FOX Deportes. For now, I will go home to my wife and get back to training for whatever is next."