How is camp going for you in Big Bear? Who are some fighters that are helping you out in preparation for Herrera? JB- Camp is going real good here in Big Bear at the Summit. We getting very good work with 3 different sparring partners Joel Diaz Jr. 17-0, Joshua Conley 9-0, Max from France with a 15-0 record, and of course Ray Beltran. Ray fights this coming weekend against Terence Crawford, so we will be watching. When you see Herrera, what do you see as his strengths and weaknesses? JB- Herrera has a good jab and uses it to come on the inside to grab and hit. His weaknesses we will unveil on December 13th. You have possibly one of the very best jabs that I have seen in the way that you use it. Herrera on the other hand, uses tricky ways of getting off double and triple jabs to get inside. Against you, I feel he will have to use a throw away jab to set up a right hook over the top. Do you see this as well? JB- We are going to keep at our reach for the majority of the fight, and when and if he successfully gets on the inside, my speed and combos will let him know I am not like any other fighter he has built up experience with. I remember seeing you spar before you turned pro, after the sparring session, I recall thinking to myself that I had just seen the next Oscar De La Hoya. You have the ability to box and mix it up with your blazing hand speed to get your opponent out of there. How close do you think you are from the final product that you are looking to be? JB- I?ve been compared to great fighters in my young career and it?s an honor. But at the same time we only got similarities, we are all different people developing ourselves in different times and circumstances. Where would you like to be in the boxing world 3 to 5 years from now? Talk to me about your short and longer time goals. JB- Short term goal is simple, his name is Mauricio Herrera. My team is definitely doing their job developing a great strategy to Ace this test. As for the long term goal, it will play itself out. My main focus right now is Mauricio Herrera. Your younger bigger brother David, is also a young lion in the making at 6-0 with 6 knockouts, who will be fighting a week after your fight here in Phoenix. Do you guys ever give each other tips on how to improve certain parts of your style? What advice do you give to him about what to expect as it relates to this boxing business? JB- My brother is very valuable to my team, we both push each other to new levels as he is on most occasions my main sparring partner. I look to him as already being one of the best fighters in the world. I admire his determination and hard work. We both have a smart strong team behind us to guide us through this boxing business. You are currently 21-0 with 15 ko?s, assuming you get passed Herrera in spectacular fashion, bigger doors shall open up for you with much bigger opportunities. Have you had a chance to think about that? If so, what goes through your mind when thinking about that? JB- Mauricio Herrera is my focus and I don?t want to assume further than December 13th. My future will play itself and is still being written. And like a good boxer I does in the ring, I will have to adjust for whatever opportunities come next. Who are your favorite fighters to see and why? JB- I enjoy watching old tapes of Prince Naseem Hamed and Floyd Mayweather Jr., those two fighters for entertainment and high skill level. The Prince has always been one of my favorites, I even used to have some Hamed trunks that I used to box in. His entertaining ring entrances, his hand speed with power punching from different angles, I was a fan of his and still am. Floyd because he is a smart skillful technical boxer. Thank you for your time, and tell your fans what can they expect to see come December 13 against Herrera? JB- We want to thank all our fans for their belief in me. A special thanks to Abel Sanchez for opening The Summit doors for me and my team. Abel has always been a gracious host to us and we really appreciate the love and support. Also to all our sponsors that make this camp possible. Last but not least, to all my family and friends for all their support. December 13 we?re giving it our all. The Herrera/Benavidez bout will take place on the HBO-televised undercard of the return of former welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr.(31-1), who is coming off his April title loss to Manny Pacquiao to take on the hard hitting Diego Chaves (23-2). Mauricio Herrera (21-4, 7 KOs), 34, of Riverside, California, is coming off of a win by majority decision against Johan Perez to claim his interim 140-pound belt. Herrera will be making his first defense against Benavidez. The 22-year-old Jose Benavidez Jr. (21-0, 15 KOs), of Phoenix, was a heavy touted amateur before turning pro in 2010. Junior was such a prodigy that the Nevada State Athletic Commission gave him a special waiver to turn pro at age 17 because the rule is that a fighter must be 18 years of age. Benavidez Jr. has been viewed by many as being a future force in the sport. On December 13 at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, he gets his first big opportunity and a step closer to reaching that sky high promise that so many envision for him. The time to shine is now!
