Saturday night at the Ramatex Factory in Windhoek, Namibia, WBA World interim super bantamweight champion Moises “Chucky” Flores (25-0, 17 KOs), from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, decisioned IBO World super bantamweight champion Paulus “The Rock” Ambunda (24-2, 10 KOs), from Swakopmund, Namibia, after 12 rounds to unify the titles.
The final scores were 115-112, 115-110, and 114-111.
Flores dropped Ambunda three times during the bout. Those knockdown might have been ruled a slip, but “The Rock” fought the fight of his life.
“Perhaps it’s tough luck for me,” said Ambunda. “I’ll bounce back. It was a slip but it’s part of the game. One must win and one must lose. Maybe I didn’t work hard enough.”
Flores had nothing but respect for his opponent.
“It was one of the toughest fights I have ever had,” he said. “I had to come forward and fight hard. That is the only way to beat a champion like Ambunda, so I brought my Mexican style and came forward and I won the fight clearly.
“It’s never an easy task going into someone’s hometown and getting the victory. I had complete faith in myself, as did my team, fighting Ambunda in his hometown. We knew we had to dominate the fight to win on the judges’ scorecards. He’s a durable fighter with a lot of heart but I was not going to be denied tonight. I want to be recognized as the next great fighter from Mexico. I want Guillermo Rigondeaux next.”
Rigondeaux was recently reinstated as WBA Super World super bantamweight champion. If he gets by James Dickens on July 16 at the Ice Palace in Cardiff, Wales, a fight between Rigo and “Chucky” looks like a real possibility.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
