Jay Harris ready to take light-flyweight division by storm
World title contender Jay Harris hopes a victory over Hector Gabriel Flores can put him on the fast-track to a world title shot at 108lbs – as the two men prepare to meet for the vacant WBA Intercontinental light-flyweight title on Friday's #MTKFightNight.
They collide on the co-promotion between MTK Global and Mo Prior at the Vale Sports Arena in Cardiff on Friday – with the event broadcast live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV.
Welshman Harris (18-2, 9 KOs) is dropping down from flyweight to compete in a new weight class when he faces unbeaten Flores (18-0-4, 9 KOs), and the Swansea fighter has big ambitions in this weight division.
The former European champion said: "I'm really excited to be fighting back in Wales. I haven't fought there since 2019 and I'm looking forward to a home crowd. I'm taking a lot of fans up there from Swansea, and we've got another local Swansea lad on the bill in Ben Crocker, so I believe it will be rocking.
"I'm happy with this new challenge in this new weight division. I made 8 stone comfortably last time, so now I'm ready for this new chapter. My opponent Hector Flores is unbeaten with 18 wins and 4 draws, and I've seen a couple of videos of some of his fights.
"I can't see him being better than Julio Cesar Martinez and Ricardo Sandoval. I've fought those two and I believe they're the two best Mexicans in the world at these lower weights. He'll definitely be game and strong, but I'm ready for anything.
"I've trained and sparred hard, and I think the fans will be in for a treat. I think he'll come straight forward, so it should be explosive and there will be fireworks. It's great to be fighting for a title straight away too. It gives you that extra buzz, and I can't wait to add a WBA Intercontinental belt to my collection.
"The light-flyweight division is very competitive. I've had a look at all of the world champions and those challenging near the top, and I'm looking forward to competing with them. I'd be happy to jump straight into a world title shot after this fight. I'll see what MTK Global think and if it comes around, but I'll be more than ready."
31-year-old Harris is ranked No.3 with the WBA, so a title win could easily push him up into the first or second spot to challenge WBA World flyweight champion Esteban Bermudez, which is a winnable fight for the Brit.
Elsewhere on Friday's bill, Akeem Ennis Brown faces Daniel Alejandro Combi for the vacant WBC International super-lightweight title, Jacob Robinson takes on Angelo Dragone for the vacant Welsh Area featherweight title, plus some of the best Welsh talent will be on display, as Rashid Omar, Ethan George, Miles Gordon, Kryan Jones, Ben Crocker and Mano Lee are all in action.
How to watch Jay Harris vs Hector Gabriel Flores
HÖRFA Menswear are proud sponsors of British Boxing News