Cuello and Hernandez lead Feb. 1 Benavidez vs Morrell prelims

Top prospects Mirco Cuello and Yoenli Hernandez will be inaction on the free portion of PBC’s February 1st Benavidez vs Morrell show

Premier Boxing Champions has revealed a pair of YouTube-streamed Prelims set to lead into their February 1st David Benavidez vs David Morrell Jr PPV, both of which feature fast-riding prospect.

The top bout sees Argentine featherweight Mirco Cuello (14-0, 11 KO) step up in class against Christian Olivo Barreda (22-1-1, 8 KO). The 24-year-old Cuello took bronze at the 2018 Youth Olympics, reached the Round of 16 at the 2020 Games, and most notably beat Sulaiman Segawa last March. The only blemish on Olivo’s record came via questionable decision against Luis Nunez in April 2023. Very nice clash of young up-and-comers.

“I’m excited to have the chance to show what I’m capable of in front of a large audience against a very skilled opponent,” Cuello said. “I will win this fight because I know what it takes to win at the highest levels. This is the most important fight of my professional career so far and I will be coming into the ring ready to make a name for myself and put the featherweight division on notice.”

“I know that I’m in a tough fight against an accomplished opponent, but every great fighter becomes known by stepping up to their greatest challenges,” Barreda said. “I will be returning to fight in the U.S. as an all-new fighter in the best shape of my life and ready to do whatever it takes to have my hand raised.”

In the opener, WBA no. 1 middleweight Yoenli Hernandez (6-0, 6 KO) takes on Angel Ruiz (18-3-1, 13 KO). This one doesn’t figure to be as competitive; Hernandez is yet another of the “new-school” Cuban knockout machines speeding through the ranks, while Ruiz is 2-3-1 (1 NC) in his last seven, most of which took place at either 147 or 154.