Moises Flores Wants Leo Santa Cruz Clash Next

StubHub Center, Carson, California - Undefeated Moises Flores (23-0, 16 KOs) captured the WBA super-bantamweight interim world championship with a thrilling 12-round split decision over defending champion Oscar Escandon.

Flores, making his 2015 debut and third start in a row in the United States, triumphed by the scores of 116-112 twice and 113-115.

An emotional Flores was near tears afterward.

"This is a dream come true - more than a dream come true - for me,'' he said. "I saw my family on the beach, eating meat. I saw my babies better dressed. For me this is a life-changing victory and, yes, I thought it was very, very close but I absolutely feel I won.

"I want to fight the best next, the top guys at 122 pounds and right now the top guy is Leo Santa Cruz. That's who I'd like to fight next."

Escandon felt he'd done enough to win despite injuring the right index finger on his right hand in the seventh round.

"I did all that I could, everything was in my reach, but I think I broke or fractured my finger," he said. "In boxing things happen that are out of your control.

"Because I hurt my hand, I couldn't throw punches the way I wanted to with my right hand. I tried to do all I could with it. But I didn't want to injure it further. I'm OK, but I definitely would love a rematch.''