For four years, Houston, Texas’s Benjamin “El Michoacano” Flores (14-2 with 4 KOs) has fought on local club shows, in ballrooms and on undercards, building his record, while learning from trainer Bobby Benton, and cultivating a large local fan base.  His patience and hard work pays off for him this Saturday evening in San Antonio, on the undercard of Manny Paquiao vs. Jorge Solis when the 22 year olds Flores faces Filipino Bernabe Concepcion (20-1-1 with 11 KOs) at 122 lbs.  Flores, who is one of Rocky Juarez’s favorite sparring partners sat down with Boxingtalk’s Mike Campbell to discuss his training for this, the biggest fight of his career to date.


BT: This fight on Saturday is a career defining fight for you.  What are your feelings going into it?

BF: This is the biggest fight for me, it’s like the fight of my life.  I’m ready.  They told me about seven weeks before the fight, so it gives me time to make the weight while training properly.  A lot of people said 122lbs is too low for me, I’ve always fought at featherweight or even super featherweight, but I’m already on weight, I’m 124 lbs right now.  I’ve been working with Bobby, and learning a lot of things from him.


BT: You’ve never fought at 122 lbs, but you say it’s no problem to make.  Do you think you’ve always been fighting too heavy?

BF: No problem.  Yes, actually I have always been the smaller guy.  My opponent is usually at least 2 lbs bigger than me, some times even 5 lbs.  Featherweight is heavy for me, so just imagine 130 lbs.  Usually I don’t have much notice for these fights, so you can’t lose weight and have proper training at the same time.  But in seven weeks, I can work on all the things I need in training and make the weight as well.


BT: What do you know about Bernabe Concepcion?

BF: I saw a videotape of him.  He’s a wild puncher, he throws a lot punches.  So, I’ll need to keep my hands in close and block him.  Bobby taught me what to do, I have to be smart, I have to be patient and stand at the right place to beat this guy.  He throws hard punches, but you can see them coming.  This is actually the first time I’ve seen my opponent before the fight.  It feels a lot different knowing the fighter and seeing his style before the fight.  It gives me confidence and I feel that I will do well.
I like this fight.  He’s got 20+ fights, but is only 19 years old.  I’ve been fighting for 10 years including the amateurs, so for the first time I feel like I’m going to be the more experience guy as well as the stronger bigger guy.  And I feel excited that I get to fight on such a great card with Manny Pacquaio and Jorge Arce.


BT: You’ve had a couple different trainers, and have been with Bobby for about half a year now.  What have you learned from him and how are you a different fighter now?

BF: I move a lot better now.  When sparring I feel so much better now.  For instance, a few weeks ago I sparred Rocky Juarez and I felt really good.  Before, I used to just trade punches with him, but this time I boxed him more.  I can tell you that in just half a year with Bobby, I’ve learned more than I did in all the time I boxed before that.  He’s made me a lot smarter fighter.


BT: Are you in the best shape of your life?

BF: Actually yeah.  I’ve been running good.  Before I would be training and working at the same time.  For the past six weeks I’ve stopped working and am training only.  I realize this is biggest fight ever for me, and can put me where I want to go.  This is the best shape I’ve ever been in.


BT: Thanks Benjamin, good luck to you on Saturday.  We’ll be there and look forward to seeing your fight.