LOS ANGELES – In their minds, Jorge Chavez and Manuel Flores are both convinced their January 16 rematch in the Coachella Valley desert will be different from their July draw.
“Everybody knows as clear as day that I won,” Chavez told BoxingScene.
“Last fight, I was more following him around. This time, I’m going to cut the ring off and not let him get out of that corner,” Flores countered.
Chavez’s surprise boxing showcase in front of Flores’ hometown crowd swayed judge Fernando Villarreal to give him a 97-93 scorecard that was outdone by Jerry Cantu and Rudy Barragan’s 95-95 cards at Fantasy Springs Casino Resort in Indio, California.
Now, on a card topped by another rematch between top-15-ranked welterweights Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel in the debut boxing event at Palm Springs’ new Acrisure Arena, Chavez, 14-0-1 (8 KOs), and Flores, 20-1-1 (16 KOs), the rising junior featherweights square off again looking to assure an ascent toward the division rankings.
The bout is designated the night’s co-main event after unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez saw his planned return bout from surgery postponed by a hand injury to challenger Robin Safar.
Flores, 27, thought he’d be on his way up before the first fight, but he was quickly down on the scorecards as his local fan base looked on and sought to cheer him on as he did enough in the second half to gain scores that surprised some experienced fight watchers.
“I feel we have adjusted to what he came with. We have a game plan for him. He’s either going to swim or drown,” Flores said. “It was very entertaining for the fans. I feel like I started off a little slower than usual, but this time we’re going to be aware.”
Flores knows the sport well enough to understand some decorated fighters have absorbed early blemishes on their record and come back as better men.
“There’s a lot of haters and critics out here saying I lost. The judges saw it and they judged,” Flores said. “I don’t pay attention to [the negativity]. I’m focused on making the adjustments. I’m using it as fuel and will take it into the ring with a deeper plan.
“It’s never a loss. It’s a lesson. You live and you learn. I live another day. I fight another day. And I get this opportunity again.”
San Diego’s Chavez, who was born in Mexico, said he takes comfort in knowing how well he fared in the first fight and how he typically performs in second meetings with sparring partners.
“I thought it was enough to win. I’ve re-watched it countless times, and each time it’s more clear I won,” Chavez said. “There’s a saying that boxers eat brawlers and I was the definition of that.”
He said “small adjustments” can provide a wider margin in the rematch.
“Just add on to what I did. During the first round, I knew I’d win. It was too easy to touch him, and once I find I can touch someone [with punches], I know I can do what I want. I could’ve gone forward more, but I lacked the conditioning in that fight. That’s why I resolved to win it by boxing. I stayed in the pocket and traded – landing while he was swinging for the fences. The judges confused that with him landing punches. They put way more punches landed on me than I actually felt.”
Chavez, 25, said he will reduce the showmanship and tighten the performance.
“I was playing with my food a little too much, sticking my tongue out, doing the Ali shuffle, having fun,” he said. “This time, I plan to stay on point until the final bell. [The outcome] made a lot of noise, created a lot of controversy, and now it goes to this bigger arena.”
The DAZN-streamed bout should lift the winner to new heights of attention, and Chavez said he’s willing to match his skills with anyone around 122lbs.
“I want to get into the deep end with the sharks. I know I’m a fighter who can adapt to anything,” he said. “I don’t know what I can accomplish until you put me there. I’ve been in there fighting and sparring with a lot of big names, and not one of them has gotten the best of me. I’ll either outclass them or dominate. I’m a very smart fighter. It’s hard to beat me twice.”
