HERIBERTO FLORES
Age: 22
Hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico
Weight class: welterweight
Top: 5-foot-7 (174 cm)
Newbie report: 36-4
Turned professional: 2021
Professional report: 13-0 (11 knockouts)
Coach: Martin Gallegos
Supervisor: Martin Gallegos
Promoter: Promociones del Pueblo, Giber Lopez and Marco Antonio Barrera
Instagram: @heribertofloresg
Greatest evening of professional profession and why: Flores scored a dominant win over a extra seasoned opponent in Could.
“[The] most necessary was his final struggle,” Flores informed The Ring. “I used to be nervous to struggle [2016] Olympian Juan Pablo Romero. I received by means of that powerful check and am now prepared for greater challenges.”
The teen paced himself properly and displayed spectacular poise in what was by far his hardest task up to now.
Worst evening of professional profession and why: The 22-year-old believes that whereas the Romero win was his finest it was additionally one he was least proud of, however served as beneficial studying curve nonetheless.
“My final struggle,” he mentioned. “I used to be nervous and likewise underestimated preventing within the excessive altitude of the State of Mexico.”
What’s Subsequent: The rising younger fighter will return towards former world title challenger Dante Jardon in Puebla, Mexico on Friday.
Jardon (36-10, 26 KOs) turned skilled in 2006. The Mexico Metropolis native has scored wins over former world titleholders Gamaliel Diaz (KO 8) and Juan Carlos Salgado (UD 12), in addition to long-time contender Miguel Roman (UD 12). He additionally challenged then-WBC junior light-weight titleholder Takashi Miura in December 2013 however was stopped in 9 rounds.
The 35-year-old veteran has moved up in weight and was stopped by once-touted Omar Aguilar (TKO 1) however upset unbeaten Artem Oganesyan (UD 10) to assert the NABF junior middleweight title. That earned him a visit to South Africa the place he was outboxed by Rourke Knapp (UD 10). He has gained one and misplaced one since then.
This could present Flores with extra expertise and rounds towards a savvy veteran. A stoppage would seem like the objective.
Why he’s a prospect: Flores gained three nationwide titles in his 40 beginner contests earlier than turning skilled at 19.
He feels two issues will assist him attain the highest.
“I consider I’m not well-known but however quickly everybody will see my energy,” he mentioned. “[Another] attribute is balls, we Mexicans have these. The remaining I’ll be taught, to throw mixtures or defend myself however I take pleasure in getting within the ring to slug it out.”
He’s clearly not missing in confidence.
“They are saying I struggle much like [Ring and WBO junior welterweight champion] Teofimo Lopez, which I don’t agree, I’m higher than him,” he mentioned.
One in every of his promoters, Oswaldo Kulche of Promociones del Pueblo, was tipped off in regards to the younger prospect.
“[Marco Antonio] Barrera informed me about him, so I noticed him and I put him some powerful exams and appreciated the child, so we went and signed a multi-year contract,” mentioned the promoter. “Barrera is aware of what it takes to be a world champ.
“He impresses me that he enjoys preventing, he’s a really enjoyable man to look at.”
The aforementioned Barrera, who gained world titles in three-weight courses throughout a corridor of fame profession, feels his fighter may make some noise on the world stage.
“Heriberto Flores is a very good fighter from Guadalajara,” he mentioned. “I received him signed with Oswaldo in order that he may get extra out attain, so we’re working as companions.
“He had his first struggle headlining [against Ve Shawn Owens] in Mexico Metropolis. Normally the way it goes is when a fighter not from there fights in Mexico Metropolis they lose, however he got here and gained in a tremendous manner [getting an eighth round stoppage.]
“He nonetheless has an extended technique to go however I see him as a future world champion.”
Ernesto Sandoval, who was with Eduardo Sanchez in July 2023, was impressed by Flores when he stopped his fighter in 9 rounds.
“I feel he is a superb boxer,” mentioned Sandoval. “I used to be stunned by his energy and effectiveness of his punches, he’s additionally an clever boxer, who prepares his physique very properly earlier than every struggle.
“I do know that he’ll go a good distance on this enterprise.”
Flores, is a stocky, however well-built power-puncher, one thing you’ll be able to’t educate and has confidence and demeanor that may assist him achieve success.
Why he’s a suspect: Flores is often Mexican in his strategy: an all-out assault.
“I would like to enhance in my protection to not get hit,” he mentioned. “I’ve confidence in my energy, so I decrease my fingers rather a lot. I really feel robust, it isn’t quite a lot of peak however I really feel robust and with out giving [away] benefits.”
If he can discover a technique to tighten issues up and hold the identical or comparable offensive output that might sure assist him as he seems to be to step into contender standing.
He believes in his energy however he can’t let that blind him from following a plan and easily go in search of the knockout, in the end that might discover him out.
Storylines: Flores hails from Guadalajara however grew up in Puerto Vallarta.
“Sports activities wasn’t that straightforward for me,” he mentioned. “I lived in Vallarta till I used to be 12 when my grandfather was unable to run his home rental enterprise and we took over.”
He discovered boxing when he was 15, after following his older brother, Leonardo, who was an beginner boxer, to the gymnasium.
“I began with the aim of reducing weight, since I used to be obese and received into fights in highschool due to bullying,” he recalled.
Guadalajara was a troublesome place for him to develop up in and one the place there’s quite a lot of competitors in boxing gyms.
“I find it irresistible however the boxing gyms are powerful,” he defined. “There’s tons of of youngsters which have a dream of being Canelo Alvarez and world champions, all of them are powerful to beat.”
Not surprisingly, given his type, he lists Mexico’s best amongst his boxing heroes.
“Julio César Chávez, like all of the Mexicans and [Gennadiy] Golovkin,” he mentioned. “Gorgeous types, at all times preventing ahead with out fascinated about taking a step again.”
He hopes to at some point comply with of their illustrious footsteps.
“First, being a world champion,” he mentioned. “And fascinated about unifying the welterweight division after which shifting as much as junior middleweight and middleweight.”
Away from boxing, Flores likes to remain lively.
“I prefer to spend time with my associates however with out staying up late or falling into vices or unhealthy habits,” he mentioned. “I fall asleep early as a result of I’ve the accountability to coach early.
“I additionally take pleasure in going to the Chapala and Cajitlán lagoons, it’s one thing that relaxes me and I can reap the benefits of the truth that it’s about 40 minutes from my home.”
Battle-by-fight report
2024
Could 24 – Juan Pablo Romero – UD 10
March 8 – Miguel Macias – TKO 4
2023
Dec. 2 – Ve Shawn Owens – TKO 8
July 21 – Eduardo Sanchez – TKO 9
March 25 – Franco Ola – TKO 2
2022
Nov. 19 – Ernesto Sanchez – TKO 2
Sept. 10 – Alexis Rios – MD 8
Aug. 12 – Ricardo Banos – TKO 3
Could 21 – Felipe Orozco – RTD 3
March 5 – Mario Martinez – TKO 1
2021
Oct. 30 – Braulio Barajas – TKO 1
Oct. 9 – Alberto Reyes – TKO 3
June 26 – Geovanny Lopez – KO 1
Questions and/or feedback could be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
