Bryan Flores maintains momentum by breaking down Jonathan Navarro

SAN BERNARDINO, California – Bryan Flores doesn’t require one-punch power to continue climbing the 140lbs rankings. He just needs to perform like the crisp-punching, smart, rugged pugilist he was Saturday.

Producing what he assessed as his sharpest exhibition yet, Mexico’s Flores, 29-1-1, defeated Southern California’s Jonathan Navarro in the ProBoxTV main event by unanimous-decision scores of 98-92, 97-93, 98-92 to assure his ascent continues.

“My power comes by putting combinations together,” Flores told BoxingScene after the bout at the National Orange Show. “It wasn’t going to be with one punch to take him out, but I realized I was breaking him down by doing more, staying active. And I came out clean.”

Flores, 30, is ranked No. 13 by the WBC, and said he’s most interested in pursuing WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell.

His noted progress in improving his boxing while delivering a third consecutive defeat to Navarro 18-3 most pleased Flores, who said this fight week he is “starving” to become a world champion.

His only loss is a 2024 split-decision to countryman Lindolfo Delgado, who fights for the IBF belt in Iate October. A higher-stakes rematch would be compelling. 

“The hunger hasn’t changed,” Flores said. “Today showed I can do more than going forward. I can box and punch and do more.  I’m ready for anyone that wants to come in. I showed it tonight.”

The action started deliberately in the first round, with Flores peering for openings to throw power punches and Navarro positioned to respond.

Flores immediately showcased more snap on his offerings as Navarro toyed with a jab and missed a right haymaker in the second.

Flores made the best of the inaction in the third, waiting until the 10-second clapper to land a right that sent Navarro to his corner and popping him with a follow-up shot.

With his right eye blackened, Navarro said his slow start was the result of not being able to make weight. The fight was contracted for 142lbs Friday after he weighed in at 141.2lbs.

“I just feel like 140 isn’t the right weight for me,”Navarro said.”I need to move up to 147. I was already struggling with the weight. I can’t give it no more. I didn’t make the weight. My body can’t do it no more. No excuses. It was a great fight. It’s a lesson learned. The 147lbs division will soon have a warrior there.”

The action inside the sweltering building waned in the fourth when Navarro tried to throw more, only to sustain effective body shots from Flores along with a right hand to the head.

Navarro aimed body shots in the fifth as Flores shrugged them off by responding with good combinations punctuated by the more rapid and pesky right hand.

Navarro’s body efforts were washed away in the sixth by Flores sending both a right and a left crashing to Navarro’s nose.

The pair traded hard rights to the head in the seventh, and in the strongest indication that Navarro could not stomach a third consecutive defeat and that Flores is hell bent to gain a title shot, neither wilted.

It even set the stage for the most entertaining exchange in the bout during the final minute.

Flores went to the body in the eighth as fatigue and the heat took effect.

Flores especially leaned into his cumulative power in the ninth, hammering a fading Navarro with rights to the head and body.

It’s different [power],” Navarro said of Flores. “I’m used to getting hit and it’s like, ‘Damn, I need to be careful there.’ His power sneaks up on you. You feel it later – ‘I’m feeling tired.’ He’s a great fighter. I wish him the best.”

Navarro dug to Flores’ body in the 10th, as the pair gave the crowd all it came for during the intense exchange with so much on the line for each.