Nicklaus Flaz stops Alfredo Escarcega Jr. to keep climbing ranks

Welterweight Nicklaus Flaz has now recorded four significant wins in a row, including two consecutive stoppages on ProBox TV, after Wednesday’s fourth-round technical knockout of Alfredo Escarcega Jr.

Flaz (13-2, 9 KOs), 28, from Puerto Rico, fought aggressively in the scheduled 10-rounder, leading the action while counterpunching effectively against Escarcega (15-2-1, 7 KOs), 26, from Buckeye, Arizona. Despite Escarcega’s solid amateur background, he was caught cleanly with several shots, particularly Flaz’s right hand, which landed consistently in the first round. Though both fighters exchanged punches throughout the fight, Flaz was most often a step ahead.

Flaz’s punches accumulated, landing fluidly on Escarcega, who experienced a noticeable drop in output from the first to the second round. In the third, Flaz dropped Escarcega with a body shot, continuing to relentlessly attack the body. Escarcega, who took the fight on short notice, grimaced with each shot until the round ended.

Flaz maintained constant pressure, described as “mental pressure” by ProBox TV commentator Paulie Malignaggi. Flaz was relentless, not allowing Escarcega to rest. In the fourth, a right hook to the body sent Escarcega down again. Flaz, seamlessly switching from orthodox to southpaw, dropped his opponent once more, with a series of right and left hooks to the body.

That was enough to prompt the intervention of referee Massimo Montanini, who stopped the fight at 2:48 in the fourth.

With recent victories over Luke Santamaria, Jahi Tucker and Brian Ceballo, Flaz is now being considered a title contender in a welterweight division that has lost some depth in a moment when Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. appear to have moved on. Before the fight, Flaz was ranked No. 7 by the IBF and No. 13 by the WBO, rankings that should improve after this performance.

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.