Boxing Prospect Flores Turns Down Shot At WBO Title

ByBoxing Press

World ranked cruiserweight BJ Flores got an offer this week that fighters work their whole lives for, a world title shot. The only problem was he was offered the fight on four days notice.

“Sports Network called me on Tuesday and offered me a shot at the title against Enzo Maccarinelli for the vacant WBO belt in a fight to be held in England this Saturday,” said Flores.

“It’s a fight I’m very interested in, but I told the promoter to at least give me a couple of weeks to prepare. They told me it was a ‘take it or leave it’ proposition.”

Maccarinelli, currently ranked #3 by the WBO, was scheduled to face #2 ranked Johnathon Banks until the latter was forced out earlier this week with an ankle injury. Flores is currently ranked # 5 by the WBO.

Said Flores, “I’ve been training for the last two months in Las Vegas without a fight being scheduled, all I said to Sports Network is give me three weeks and I’ll be happy to come over and beat Maccarinelli.”

“In his last fight which was broadcast in the United States on Showtime, David Haye pretty much used Maccarinelli as a punching bag so I’m not sure why the WBO would have him ranked so high or let his promoter dictate the terms.

“Typically, in this country, promoters give boxers at least a few weeks notice before a world title fight, obviously over there they do things differently.”

Flores, 21-0-1 (13), is also world ranked #2 by the IBF, # 8 by the WBA and #13 by the WBC.

Having last fought in February of this year, an ESPN2 televised unanimous decision over Darnell Wilson, Flores spoke about the time off and his new training regimen.

“I would have liked to have fought more often this year, but the time off has truly allowed me to maximize my efforts in training and conditioning. Right now, working with Jacob Chavez in Las Vegas, we’ve really taken it to another level in regards to the shape I’m in. My next fight, people are not going to recognize me.”

Flores also wanted to thank his loyal team; managers Jerry Giuliano and Megan DeAndrea, adviser Lou Mesorano and his father Frank and the entire Flores family for all of their support.