"I just want to give them excitement. I know a lot of people criticize fighters for running. I won't say any names, but we as fighters are the only ones that know what it's like to be in there. But of course people want excitement and I could box, I could brawl. People like to see knockouts. I'm not a big knockout puncher, but I can be to the body, which I'm okay with that. I want to showcase my skills and give them a great show," stated up-and-coming featherweight Miguel Flores, who talked about his recent win, his future plans, and more. Check it out!
PC: How is everything going, man?
MF: Ah man, everything is going great. We're back in training camp 100% and getting ready for our next test, which will be November 10th.
PC: You're coming off of a 4th round knockout of Carlos Padilla. Tell us about it!
MF: It was actually one of my toughest fights on paper and it was one of my toughest fights. I've been 8 rounds and this was a 4-round fight and it was tougher than my 8-round fight that went the distance. Padilla came to fight. He came to win. He was throwing some good shots. He caught me with a good body shot that hurt me bad, but I guess my body shot was better because it dropped him. It was a great experience, man. It was a different level of fighting because he came to win. It was a great learning experience.
PC: You've stated before that you want to be known as a boxer and not a brawler, but when you display the attrition that you did against Padilla, how much confidence does that instill in a young fighter like yourself?
MF: It built my confidence a lot. I'm not gonna lie, before the fight, they told me that I was fighting this guy that's 15-2 and that is the best record on paper that I had faced, and like you said, I'm a boxer, but I can brawl. It's my instincts. I'm Mexican, so of course I want to brawl. They told me box in the first few rounds and things will go smooth after that. That's what I did and that gave me a lot of confidence. Dropping him in the 3rd made me know that I can compete with that level of opposition. It was a great confidence booster.
PC: You're back in the gym and going to be back in the ring in November for your fourth fight of the year. You gotta be pleased with that activity.
MF: Oh man, yes, definitely. This has been the most active I have been since I can remember. I'm very thankful for my manager, Luis De Cuba Jr., and the whole team, Al Haymon and PBC for giving me these opportunities. My trainers have been keeping me busy and keeping me in shape and everything is going according to plan.
PC: You guys have the Charlo brothers and yourself. Things looking up for the talent coming out of Houston.
MF: Definitely. When you look at the days of Rocky Juarez and Juan Diaz, it hasn't really been anyone to put Houston on the map like that. Like you said, with the Charlo brothers coming along, that opens up the doors for a lot of us, even if they don't realize it. They open up the doors for us. As a matter of fact, they have a card here in Houston on the 31st that I will not be on. We had a spot to get on TV, and of course that TV exposure, you can't beat it. But yeah, now that the Charlo brothers are putting Houston on the map, it's opening a lot of doors for a lot of young fighters to showcase their skills and it gives them a lot of opportunities as well.
PC: Your last four fights or so have been in Texas. Is that added pressure or do you enjoy fighting at home?
MF: I just enjoy fighting overall. I'll fight anywhere they tell me to. It's always good to fight in Texas. I have a lot of family or support here in Texas, but I've also fought in Mexico and Washington. Once we're in the ring, it's basically the same thing. At the end of the day, if they want me to keep fighting in Texas, I'm happy with that. As long as they keep me busy, I'm happy with that.
PC: How big of a deal is it for you to get this tv exposure so early into your career, which Al Haymon and PBC have been doing a great job at?
MF: It took me quite awhile to get that TV exposure. I turned pro in 2009 and at the beginning of my career, I didn't have that promotion like fighters do now. I was doing things on my own. I had to work hard to get to where I'm at. A lot of fighters have that Olympic background, so they get that big push and TV exposure right away. I actually had to work hard for it, but it's good. Like you said, a lot of young fighters starting to get that TV exposure and Al Haymon and PBC is actually giving fighters that opportunity. They have fights every weekend now and throughout the week. I'm fighting on a Tuesday, so that shows you. He's definitely giving us a lot of exposure out there.
PC: Now that we will have the opportunity to see you fight on the big screen, what are you looking to showcase in November?
MF: I just want to give them excitement. I know a lot of people criticize fighters for running. I won't say any names, but we as fighters are the only ones that know what it's like to be in there. But of course people want excitement and I could box, I could brawl. People like to see knockouts. I'm not a big knockout puncher, but I can be to the body, which I'm okay with that. I want to showcase my skills and give them a great show.
PC: You had a brother that passed away doing the very thing that you are doing now. Did you ever have second thoughts about your boxing career when he died from injuries in the ring or did you use that as motivation to move forward with your career?
MF: I had a second thought about continuing to fight. My brother had just lost his life doing this beautiful but brutal sport. And I've always said that it's beautiful, but it's brutal at the same time. Nobody understands how hard this sport is. And I realized instead of letting it hold me back, I used it as motivation. Me and my brother always had that dream of becoming champions and to fight on that same card. So I just told myself to keep that dream going and not let this hold me back. And I know my brother is watching me. Every time I step in the ring, he is the one I talk to and that I depend on for him to guide me through the fight. And everything is going to plan up to now. I'm 18-0, I have a good record, and everything is going well.
PC: He left a son behind. Have you put him under your wing and are guiding him now?
MF: Yes, of course. He's more like a son. I'm trying to keep him away from boxing, man (laughing). I really don't want him to pick it up because I know how hard it is. But if one day he tells me that he wants to pick up the sport when he's older, of course I'm going to look over him. But I see it as when I was younger, my brother used to take care of me, so now I'm taking care of his son.
PC: I'm looking forward to seeing you fight and best of luck to you. Is there anything else you want to add before I let you go?
MF: Just be on the look out November 10th. I believe we have an opponent, a guy from Guyana, and we will be ready for him come November 10th.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]