Exclusive Interview by James Slater As he’s more than made clear before on this very web site, unbeaten cruiserweight contender B.J Flores craves a fight with WBO 200-pound ruler Marco Huck. And after having watched Huck defend his belt with a points win over interim WBO champ Ola Afolabi at the weekend, the 30-year-old who is currently 24-0-1(15) sure hasn’t changed his mind any. Flores would be more than willing to travel to Germany for fight and he hopes Huck will agree to face him next time out.
Kindly taking the time to speak with me about this and other things, B.J gave the following answers to my questions:
James Slater: It’s great to speak with you again so soon, B.J. First of all, were you impressed with Marco Huck’s win over Ola Afolabi on Saturday?
B.J Flores: I think he did what he had to do to win. He was fighting a tough guy. But basically, he did pretty much the same thing – I saw no real changes in Huck’s style. He squeaked another close decision, as he did when he won the title from Ramirez – and a world champion should be making more of a statement. I mean, let’s face it, he was fighting a guy who has only had 15 pro fights in Afolabi, and Huck never pulled away and made a statement. I really don’t think he’s improving..
J.S: Did you go over to Germany to be ringside for the fight?
B.J.F: No, I watched it on a live stream and then I saw it again on You Tube. Again, I don’t think Huck has looked like a champion is supposed to look. Okay, he’s been in with some tough guys, but he’s just squeaked past them. He won’t be able to squeak past me.
J.S: So from what you saw of him against Afolabi, you want Huck just as much, or even more?
B.J.F: More! This is the only fight I want. This is it! Who else is there for him to fight? He has the chance now, I read, to take an optional fight, and I’m knocking down his door. Who else is really demanding the fight? Who else is willing to go to Germany to fight him? I know for sure I can beat him – my career has been leading up to this fight. I will bring the belt back home with me, I have no doubt at all. There’s no way he can learn enough to be able to beat me in the next four months or so. I’ll put something on him like nobody he’s ever faced has done. Huck’s sporadic offence cannot beat me.
J.S: Are you still planning to have a tune-up in January?
B.J.F: Well, the thing that happened with Roy [Jones[ has really upset everything. Nobody knows what’s happening right now. I could box a tune-up, but at the same time, I’d go straight to Germany to fight Huck if that’s what they wanted. I’m ready right now. I’m training and I’d go straight for Huck next. I will do whatever it takes to make the fight – whatever the Sauerlands need so as to get this fight made. They’re smart guys, and they want to make the best fights – and this fight, as they know, would be big for Germany. Like I say, I’m beating down the door for this fight. I’m eating, drinking and sleeping Marco Huck!
J.S: You mentioned Roy Jones’ shock loss, and it was a huge surprise. Would you like a fight with Danny Green if you can’t for any reason get Huck?
B.J.F: Oh yeah! Green proved himself with the win, he’s got to be taken seriously and he’s got to be contended with. Ideally, though I’d definitely go to Australia to fight Danny Green, I’d like to fight Huck first, then Green. I think the Green fight would be that much bigger if I had a title; if I’d beaten Huck first. Would Green want to fight me if I didn’t have a world title? But both fights, they’re what I need. I’ve really started taking my career seriously in the last six months or so, and I know now that I have to go and get these fights.
J.S: Do you think the referee did the right thing in stopping the Green-Jones fight? I know Bernard Hopkins, for one, felt it was a premature stoppage.
B.J.F: I think it could have been called either way, but the referee definitely did what he thought was right at the time. There was a lull in the action after the knockdown, and when Green stopped punching, Roy didn’t punch back – he was still unsteady and still hurt. Bernard has said what he’s said because he still wants the fight with Roy. I don’t think Bernard will fight Green, but I’d certainly go to Australia. Green is good for boxing, he’s a popular guy and that’s because he’s witty, he’s likeable, and he can fight as well. He has a big fan base over there, and it would be a great fight, me and him. But I can’t stress enough how much I want the fight with Huck!
J.S: Afolabi hurt Huck in the 5th round of their fight, when he wobbled him with an uppercut. Did you see that and think that maybe you’d be able to stop Huck and not just out-box him?
B.J.F: I saw that, yeah. And it wasn’t just a little wobble – he was badly hurt, and we haven’t seen Huck hurt too many times like that. But he fought back like a warrior and he beat a tough guy. I think maybe Huck has improved a little, and he does have a good defence when he goes into his tight shell – but he hasn’t improved enough to be able to beat me. I know it may sound bad, but that’s just the way I feel. I know it would be a tough fight, and that I’d have to get ready for it like no other fight, but I can beat him, no doubt. But as for when I do fight Huck, I won’t be changing my game-plan – and I have a great game-plan to beat him – just because I saw him hurt by Afolabi. My game-plan would stay the same whether I had seen that or if I hadn’t seen it.
J.S: Well, I hope you get the fight. I think it would be a great fight for the division – an unbeaten contender against a now established champion.
B.J.F: Exactly, those are my thoughts entirely. Let me ask you, who else is there for Huck to fight next but me? Everyone else is tied up. This fight makes so much sense. Back before Huck fought Ramirez, I was the guy who was ranked higher than him [with the WBO]. But his promoters did a great job with him and got him the fight. Now it’s time for him to do the right thing and give me the shot. He had to get by Afolabi and he’s done that now – so there are no other obstacles. Let’s make the fight! Can we do it now, Marco!?!
J.S: Thanks again for your time, B.J. I really hope you get the fight.
B.J.F: Thank you, James. Yes, getting the fight agreed to would be an early Christmas present for me. I want Marco Huck for Christmas!