Croatia’s Luka Plantic produced a composed, impressive display of pressure fighting to stop Jack Cullen of Britain in the fifth round of their super-middleweight fight in Aschaffenburg, Germany. 

Plantic, 8-0 (7 KOs), was too well-rounded and hit too hard for the game Cullen, 22-6-1 (10 KOs), who came to fight but was simply outgunned.

Cullen unofficially retired following his disappointing defeat by Zak Chelli in January. A lacklustre performance cost him his British and Commonwealth titles and left him concerned about having to start rebuilding on small-hall shows.

Plantic’s team suggested the fight while Cullen was on holiday contemplating his future, and the 30 year old agreed just moments after his return flight touched down at Manchester airport.

The 27-year-old Croatian was an excellent amateur who turned professional back in 2018 but competed at the delayed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. In July 2022 he accounted for the former European middleweight champion and world-title challenger Khoren Gevor.

Against Cullen, Plantic took the centre of the ring right away and attempted to walk the taller Cullen back towards the ropes where he would attack with heavy right hands and left hooks. Cullen was busy with his own lead hand – firstly with his jab and then in firing in left hooks to head and body, but Plantic looked strong and composed and immediately established his range. Cullen was throwing lots, but the impression was that he was being forced to do so.

After a high-contact opening round Cullen tried to utilise his reach advantage and to keep Plantic at bay with his jab, but he also had little choice but to let heavy shots go to try and dissuade the ever-advancing Plantic. He landed plenty, but he was unable to make a real impact, whereas Plantic’s heavy attacks left Cullen looking a little disorganised towards the end of the second round. Plantic succeeded when loading up with his right hand and followig it with a left hook to the body. 

Cullen opened the third with a fine left hook and his jab began to work well. Having forced Cullen to work at an uncomfortable pace, Plantic slightly slowed down, and Cullen boxed well when the fight was in the centre of the ring, where he used his jab effectively and prevented Plantic from launching his heavy attacks. The Croat looked solid and imposing, and chose his moments to attack. 

A short left hook seemed to hurt Cullen early in the fourth. He moved back to the ropes where he tried to cover up, but Plantic put together a well-picked, sustained attack. The sequence took a lot out of Cullen, who attempted to fire back, but his attacks were increasingly making little impression on Plantic, who calmly walked forwards, inviting the tiring Cullen to punch and then taking his turn to punish him with his harder shots.

In the fifth Cullen was hurt by a well-timed overhand right when they left a clinch and he then absorbed a hard right to the body during an exchange on the ropes. The ending already appeared imminent before a left hook to the body then dropped Cullen to his knees. Cullen got up, but, after glancing over towards his corner, the referee Daniel van de Wiele decided to stop the fight after two minutes and 35 seconds of the fifth round. 

Plantic, post-fight, called out the undisputed 168lbs champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. He is unlikely to ever fight the Mexican, but represents a worthwhile addition to the super-middleweight scene at world-level.