by James Slater – Last night, in Las Vegas, at The Plaza Hotel and Casino, unbeaten 29-year-old cruiserweight contender B.J Flores fought for the first time in almost a year. In improving his pro record to 22-0-1(14) Flores displayed no ring rust to speak of in his contest with a naturally bigger guy in heavyweight journeyman Matt Hicks.. Flores stopped the now 13-4(12) 32-year-old at 2 minutes and 50-seconds of the 3rd round, and then immediately spoke of his world title ambitions at 200-pounds.
For while last night’s bout was very much of the tune-up variety, the talented former amateur standout now wants to get in there with a belt holder. B.J claims to have been offered almost insulting amounts of money for meaningful bouts in the past, and this is one of the reasons he has been inactive for eleven months. According to a piece in The Las Vegas Sun, Flores’ take-home purse for last night’s bout was only $25.00! But, as the fighter explained, he was just glad to have gotten back in there. “This fight wasn’t about money,” the victorious Flores told the paper, “It was about getting back in the ring.”
The man who has a win over the always dangerous Darnell Wilson also spoke about last night’s return to action win, in which he scored a 2nd round knockdown over his late replacement foe, before finishing him in the 3rd.
“He’s [Hicks] a big guy so I wanted to see what he had,” Flores said. “I didn’t get hit with anything clean. I controlled him, moved him around. I did what I wanted to do. Hopefully this fight will let people know I’m back.”
Flores, who until now has been unable to reach a sensible deal with a reigning world champion, hopes this will change in 2009.
“I’ll fight anybody,” B.J stated. “We just want to make sure the deal is right and the situation is right. We deserve a fair amount of money and a fair amount of time to prepare. Give me that and I’ll fight any of the champions.
“I feel like I’m just going into the best phase of my career.”
With his fast hands, good boxing brain and superb conditioning, a Flores challenge of either IBF cruiserweight champ Tomasz Adamek, WBA champ Guillermo Jones, or WBC champ Giacobbe Fragomeni would be very interesting indeed. Hopefully this year, by the spring or the summer, the man who wants to take over his weight class will be given his chance to try and do so.