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Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:02:00
ONE ON ONE with B.J Flores
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While in Memphis covering the Andre Berto and Chris Arreola HBO Boxing After Dark card, Boxing Herald ran into the USBA cruiserweight champion, B.J. Flores. |
B.J's last effort was a very impressive win over Darnell Wilson. Knowing that Wilson is capable of knocking out anyone in the division at any time, Flores fought a smart fight, and out-boxed him to grab the USBA title. Flores talked to Boxing Herald about what lays ahead for his promising future.
BH – B.J. Good to see you man, what's the latest?
B.J. - Not much man, just came out to enjoy the fights tonight. I'm watching my boy Berto go out and get that title tonight. It should be a great fight between Witherspoon and Arreola tonight too.
BH – What are your thoughts on Berto? He goes for the title tonight, and Arreola and Witherspoon should be a good one too. (NOTE – Interview took place prior to both Berto and Arreola fights.)
B.J. - I look for Berto to win convincingly tonight. I don't know if anyone knows much about this Rodriguez guy. I look for Berto to get in there and establish his game plan early, and he should get this guy out of there. Arreola vs. Witherspoon should be an interesting fight. Witherspoon always comes into the fight in shape, but a prime Arreola should get the job done tonight. Both guys are undefeated, so it should be a good one.
BH – Your last effort was against Darnell Wilson. You got a nice win on national television. Talk about how important that fight was for your career.
B.J. - I give myself a C; it wasn't a great fight but it was a fight that I won, and moved my career along. The next fight is the fight where I am looking forward to impressing people. That fight wasn't the fight where people could see what I could do. I won it, but I am now looking forward to putting on more exciting fights. It was a hurdle that I had to get over; Darnell has the biggest punch in the division. It was a calculated risk that my team took to take that fight, and that's what we did. We are now looking at bigger things for our future.
BH – B.J., That was a fight where you had to fight smart. Darnell Wilson can knockout anybody, at any time.
B.J. - Yes, true but that's not what the fans want to see. You as a boxing guy understands that I had to fight careful against that guy, but the fans want to see exciting fights. I plan on giving the fans an exciting fight the next time out.
BH – What do you got coming up next?
B.J. - Yeah, we're working on something big right now. I can't talk about it right now, but we are working on something big that we will announce shortly. We are looking at an August date on ESPN in Phoenix, Arizona. I called out Jose Louis Rivera, but Jimmy Burchfield said that he doesn't want that fight for him. It's tough to get another guy for ESPN to accept it. It's a tough game to call people out and get things done these days. I have been calling out a lot of people (laughs); I had to call out Darnell Wilson to get that fight. Do you have any suggestions? (laughs)
BH – Steve Cunningham? (laughs)
B.J. - (Laughs) I think he's wrapped up with Tomasz Adamek. That would be great fight though, but I would rather fight a few more before I fight him though. I want to position myself a little more before I take a fight with him, but in time that would be great to fight Cunningham.
BH – How many more fights do you think it will take you to get a world title fight?
B.J. - Well, I am right around the corner from it. I have been offered one or two opportunities, but I want a legitimate shot where they are coming to me, and not me coming to them. I think a fight or two away if I get the right people behind me.
BH – B.J. Do you have any closing thoughts for your fans?
B.J. - I appreciate it; I am working hard. I have some exciting news that we'll announce in the next few weeks. I can't say anything about it now, but it's really exciting news for my career.
BH – We look forward to that, thanks for your time.
B.J. - Thanks man, I appreciate it.
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