Gabriel Flores vs Luis Alberto Lopez

Is it a case of a step to far? or did the young 21 year old Flores just take a step too quickly?. He seems to possess all the necessary required skills to move to the next level but is just lacking a little bit in experience. In a young fighters journey to the top, its important to build them up physically, but just as important to build them mentally and emotionally. Many a times an exciting young prospect has been destroyed by being pitted against superior opponents much too early in their career, and that ultimately destroys their confidence and ends their aspiring rise to the top.

Lopez came out very aggressively from the opening bell in a successful attempt to rattle the younger Flores jr, disrupting his opportunity to settle and grow into the fight. Lopez landed good clean heavy shots almost from the jump as he pressed forward, pressing his advantage and using his experience to off set Flores jrs noticeable height and speed advantage. An over hand right caught Flores flush in the first 10 seconds, drawing blood from his mouth and snapping his head back, it seemed to sap the younger mans composure.

Flores bounced back well, coming out for the second round using his feet and landing combinations, the train was back on the tracks and business had resumed as normal, but Lopez had other ideas. It was a close fought high action round. Flores showed he has the grit and heart required to compete in this tough sport.

The smaller compact lopez used his quick feet to great effect all night slipping inside and punishing the taller Flores for continuously dropping his left hand and leaving himself open to the right. As the fight wore on it became apparent that Flores jr, who never stopped trying, was struggling to cope with the non stop pressure of Lopez. His inexperience showed that he didn't possess the knowledge to handled a high pressure fighter of Lopez's calibre.

Flores answered some big important questions that all fighters have answer at some point their career, he has heart, he has a chin and he has grit, as was evident when he bit down on his shield to weather some rough patches in the later stages of the fight when he was visibly shaken and buzzed.

Until the 9th round most rounds were competitive but Flores grew tired and lopez upped the pace rocking the younger man to the point that his corner considered stopping the fight before the start of the tenth, and then threw in the towel in the dying seconds of the fight, which the ref either didnt see or just flat out ignored. Flores jr bravely fought to the the very end and was rewarded with the glorious sound of the final bell.

So was it too much too soon? or did flores just reach his ceiling? only time will tell.