In part 2 of my special ?On The Ropes? interview with cruiserweight contender and boxing commentator, BJ Flores, I get his his views on Floyd Mayweather Jr?s last fight with Marcos Maidana and a potential Mayweather-Pacquiao fight bout. BJ also speaks on Pacquiao?s chances of beating Floyd following his win over Chris Algieri, and who he ultimately would pick now to win that fight. Additionally Flores talks about his own future in the cruiserweight division and if he sees a title fight happening next year. Here is what BJ Flores had to say.
Jenna J: Do you think Floyd Mayweather is having added pressure put on him to have a fight with Pacquiao, being that the last two fights in the Showtime deal have by all accounts been losing money?
BJ Flores: I can?t comment on if there?s pressure from the network, I have no idea. I think those guys over there are probably very happy with the exposure ? whether it?s translated to dollars immediately or not, Showtime is very happy with the boost in boxing they?ve received this year. Stephen Espinoza has said a lot of times that Floyd?s done a lot for the channel.
I know the media and the fans want to see it and a people?s champions, he wants to do what the people want him to do, with that being said, Floyd?s all about his business. Unless it makes sense financially, unless Floyd dictates the terms, I don?t think it?s gonna happen.
I think if they would have done the fight four or five years ago, it would have been a lot bigger of a fight, it would have sold a lot more and they both would have made a lot of money but sometimes you wait and you let a fight slip too long and I think that?s the case in this situation.
Manny Pacquiao has been knocked out, Floyd?s getting a little older now ? he?s still the best, but his last fight, I shut it off because after six or seven rounds, every single time Maidana got close, he just immediately clinched him and the referee would just immediately break them. As a tactic, holding is definitely a part of boxing, but you can?t be that blatant about it and that obvious and let the referee break it up every single time the other fighter gets close.
Both guys are now more into what is financially beneficial for them instead of making good fights and it seems like even the referees are in on it. Floyd?s coming off a fight where he beat Maidana but every time he got close, he physically grabbed him and there?s not one other referee in the entire world that would let a fighter get away with as much blatant and obvious holding like Floyd is able to get away with. It kind of takes away from the fight and it kind of cheats the fans a little bit.
Jenna J: If the fight were to happen today, what actually happens? Floyd?s looked a little bit slower with his footwork in recent fights, Pacquiao has shown he still has the power. Do you think the result changes from what it was a year ago?
BJ Flores: I don?t know. I always liked Floyd in the fight. I always thought Floyd would just find a way to beat Manny, I still feel that way. I just don?t know how Pacquiao knocking down a 140lb?er six times, how that makes your case any stronger to beat Floyd Mayweather, it?s not even close to the same. I still like Floyd to beat Manny if they fight right now but I don?t really think it changes too much, I just think the fight has lost a lot of its luster. It is what it is.
Jenna J: We have an upcoming fight between Devon Alexander and Amir Khan, what do you think is gonna happen in that fight?
BJ Flores: I don?t know, I think it?s gonna be interesting. Devon?s gotta be able to counter punch Amir and that?s very difficult because Devon is a good counter puncher but Amir?s hand speed is so fast, it?s very tough.
With a guy like Amir, what you have to do is you have to time him, that?s what Danny Garcia was able to do and that?s what Lamont Peterson was able to do. They timed him and they put pressure on him. They didn?t try to wait and slip and counter, they would punch at the same time when Amir would punch because he is a little susceptible but his hand speed is so fast and he?s so athletic and tough, he?s very tough for anybody.
With this fight coming up, Devon?s gonna have to time him, he?s gonna have to keep pressure on him. I think Amir is the bigger of the two, I think Amir?s got the better hand speed and it?s probably very similar in punching power. Devon has to time Amir, he has to come over the top. He has to catch Amir when he?s punching otherwise I think Amir is gonna be too fast for him.
Jenna J: Do you think if Amir Khan is the winner of that fight, that he will have a fight with either Mayweather or Pacquiao?
BJ Flores: Yeah I think so. Who?s the real name to fight either one of those guys? I don?t think anyone is bending over backwards to see Floyd or Manny fight any one particular name if it?s not each other right now. I think a good win by Amir or by Devon would definitely put them in the running ? especially if it?s Amir because he?s got a huge country behind him and that would definitely help the PPV sales and that makes a lot of sense business wise to do that.
If Devon beats Amir, they might want to see him against Shawn Porter again or against Keith Thurman and make those two guys really fight it out and see who the winner is and really build up either one of those guys names? in the United States. If it?s Amir Khan, yes it makes a lot of sense because he?s got a huge following over in the UK.
Jenna J: Fans are wondering when they?re gonna see you back in the ring. When do you see yourself getting back in there?
BJ Flores: February, I will be back for sure on February.
Jenna J: What kind of opponent are you looking for there?
BJ Flores: Whoever they put in, it doesn?t mater. If the fight?s gonna be on NBC, I?d prefer it to be a top fifteen world rated guy, that way on my next fight I?m able and qualified to fight for some type of title. That?s really what I want and that?s what I?ve been telling the guys that I want.
There are quite a few guys in the WBO ratings, WBA, all the different ratings that we?re just looking at that I would love to fight and it?s just a question of whether they?ll come over here and what we got to do to get them over here. With al Haymon behind the plan now, it?s all gonna happen, I?m just gonna leave it in their hands and they?re gonna take care of it.
