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Dunkirk boxers prep for Erie fights

Dunkirk is about to make noise at the bay. No, not Chadwick’s Bay, but at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. Two of Dunkirk’s finest, professional boxers Wilfredo “El Bravo Vega” Flores (5-0, 1 KO) and Ivan “The Hurricane” Hernandez (1-3-1, 1 KO) are about to take Erie by storm on Oct. 7.

Vega Flores, 27, a Dunkirk native and the son of the late Avi Vega — a former pro fighter — will face Alden Wattley (3-0, 3 KO) in the 135-lightweight division, and Vega Flores is itching to get into the ring.

“I feel good. I just got done beating a guy in his hometown on Cinco de Mayo,” Vega Flores said. In his last fight, Vega Flores took on Adrian Perez (11-6-1) in a Mexico versus Puerto Rico showdown — Perez repping Mexico, Vega Flores Puerto Rico. He defeated Perez by majority decision. “It was a great experience. (Perez) once fought champion, Oscar Valdez.” Valdez is currently the WBO Featherweight champion of the world. Valdez took the title back in 2016. Prior to winning the title, Valdez defeated Perez by knockout in a April 12, 2014 bout. Needless to say, Perez was no slouch.

“(Perez) had some good experience under his belt. … He was tough, and I almost dropped him the second round and the third and fourth, but his experience kept him in the fight. … At the end of the fight, I had a couple of bruises, he had been headbutting me a lot, but we got the decision. … It was a good confidence booster,” Vega Flores recalled.

Going into this matchup, Flores is licking his chops at the opportunity to show out in the ring in front of friends and family.

“I’ve been working two-to-three training sessions a day. (Wattley’s) 3-0 with three knockouts, but it’s going to take more than that to stop me,” he said. “We’ll be prepared and ready to fight. I’m going to give my family and friends a good show. We’ve been trying to work on our counter punching. Working on our jab a lot; being in shape. … Right now my focus has been on my intensity. More combinations, but hard. I’m a great body puncher. I go to the body so the head drops. … I’ve also worked on my big left hand, my over left has been coming pretty well.”

Vega Flores, fighting out of Thunder Boxing, is cool and confident, and is passionate about representing the city of Dunkirk as well as fighting for himself and his family. To say it bluntly, Vega Flores is ready to go to war.

“I’ve fought guys with great records. Right now I’m ranked No. 56 in the U.S.,” he stated. “I got to stay focused, go in there and be confident. Hector Alejandro, my trainer, he makes sure I’m in top shape. … I got a strong chin. (Wattley’s) going to have to bring something new to the table to fight me. … I’m going to be ready to fight. He’s in for a treat.

“This fight means a lot to me,” he continued. “I don’t fight only for myself, but I fight for my family as well as, and to encourage other young fighters and athletes … I want to show that them that when you work hard your dreams can come true. … I fight with a passion.”

Hernandez, 29, will be coming off a two-month suspension to face Jeremiah Yeager. In his previous fight in Pittsburgh, Hernandez lost to Jordan Morales by TKO, when the referee stopped the match in the fourth round, where it was discovered that Hernandez — a Type I diabetic — was flirting with diabetic shock with an extremely high blood-glucose reading. Since that time, Team Hurricane and Elevation Combat Sports Academy (ECSA) have focused in on his health issues by hiring a nutritionist, as well as a diabetic educator to help Hernandez get back on track. Determined to make a comeback, Hernandez has used his past troubles as a learning experience to help motivate and push himself forward.

“(The suspension) opened my eyes a lot and I realized that my health was (priority) number one,” Hernandez said. “I’m feeling a lot better. … If people came across the problem that I had, they probably would’ve quit already. I’m learning from my mistakes and just getting better. It’s only been a couple of weeks and I feel 100 times better. I’m ready to compete and I’m better with my health, so I’m ready to get back and show my full potential. I feel like I let Dunkirk down a little bit, and I want people to come out and see the real me. I believe that when I’m at 100 percent, there’s nobody that can stop me.”

Hernandez has all the tools to be successful. Now that he’s on top of his health, he’s once again ready to show what he’s made of.

“I’m going to be ready. I’m going to make sure my health is good. I feel like I owe one for Dunkirk and I’m going to make it up Oct. 7. I’m going to come out explosive, so expect fireworks,” he concluded.

Tickets prices are set for $30 general admission and $50 ringside. Any inquiries regarding sales, contact Flores and Hernandez via Facebook, or purchase tickets at ECSA located on 87 Lake Shore Drive East. Fights start at the Bayfront Convention Center Oct. 7 at 6 p.m.

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