by Reynaldo 'El Papi Chulo' Sanchez
Henry Rivalta, co-manager of Mexican fighter Moises "Chucky" Flores, is convinced that his fighter has a great chance at beating two-time Olympic gold medal winner Guillermo Rigondeaux, when fighters collide in a mandatory title fight in the coming months.
This past Saturday, Flores (25-0, 17 KOs) received his IBO super bantamweight belt from Rivalta. Last June, Flores scored an impressive unanimous decision victory over Paulus Ambunda (24-2, 10 KOs), in his home town of Windhoek, Namibia (Africa), to earn that world title strap.
Flores, who is also the WBA's interim champion at 122-pounds, is the mandatory challenger to Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs), who holds the WBA's super title at the weight. Both camps are in negotiations with the possibility of the fight happening in the next few months.
If the fight comes to fruition, both the WBA and IBO world title belts will be on the line.
“Winning the IBO world championship is a testament to my hard work and the great team around me,” said Flores. “Together we worked really hard to get this world title. I’m now the mandatory to challenge Guillermo Rigondeaux, a fight I’m looking forward to. He’s very skilled but I feel I have all the tools to defeat him. My management team is working hard to get this fight finalized. It’s time to see who the best super-bantamweight is. I going to bring that world title home to Mexico.”
The fight is bittersweet for Rivalta, because he's going up against a fighter who is co-promoted by one of his closest friends, Boris Arencibia of Caribe Boxing.
Rivalta told Ringsidefightingnews - "For me, this is a tough fight and every man has to do what is needed in the ring. I believe that Moises is a boxer who has the heart and the balls to defeat Rigondeaux. We'll be in a fight against a fighter who being handled by a man who is like my brother, Boris Arencibia - and in this battle our fighters will be in the ring that night, but our friendship goes beyond boxing and I wish them luck to both"
"I realize we are going up against one of the best fighters in the world in Rigondeaux. But we are willing to take the risk and take this opportunity. Moises is coming off a tough and exciting fight in Africa against Ambunda and now, as mandatory challenger, will face one of the best fighters in the world - but with this great opportunity he gets the chance to win and secure another title for Mexico."
