How sampling punches from Israil Madrimov changed the life of Grant Flores

Junior middleweight Grant Flores has gained a wealth of knowledge since his last fight after traveling overseas for the first time in his life to visit Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. 

Flores will return in a six-round bout Thursday night against David Ramirez at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California. 

Flores, 20, who hails from the Coachella Valley in California, fought three times in 2023, four times in 2024 and has set a goal to fight five times in 2025. 

Flores, who trains with the Diaz Brothers, Joel and Antonio, in Indio, California, recently had a major opportunity. A week after his unanimous decision victory over Luis Caraballo Ramos, he went overseas for the first time in his life. First, he saw Golden Boy’s Latino Night card in Saudi Arabia. Then he sparred with former titleholder Israil Madrimov in Uzbekistan – and not for the first time.

Flores previously sparred with Madrimov in Indio, California, ahead of his fight with Terence Crawford. Clearly impressed, Madrimov asked Flores to help him again, this time in Uzbekistan to prepare for his aborted December 22 date with Serhii Bohachuk. Flores learned plenty regardless. 

“I really gained a lot and I just hope to show it,” Flores said. “It was a great learning experience going out there, meeting new people, seeing new cultures, learning different styles, the European style. So, I have added that to my arsenal.”

Flores, who was homeschooled as a child, started fighting at the age of seven and has trained with the Diaz brothers his whole life. 

“My dad asked if I could train with the pros when I was like 15 or 16,” Flores, 7-0 (5 KOs) said. “Joel Diaz put me into spar with Cub Swanson [a MMA fighter] when I was like 15 years old. Man, I got some whoopings.” 

Flores ran down a list of the fighters he sparred. He faced Thomas Dulorme and Omar Figueroa Jnr when he was 16 and Batyr Akhmedov when he was 17. Then he started sparring with Madrimov.

“I was elevating. I was trying to get better with my work,” Flores said. “Joel Diaz was a big part of that. He put me in and then once I realized I had it in me I realized I could do it.’

The bond continued and the experience from sparring fighters like Madrimov makes him a healthy favourite next week. 

Nonetheless, 32-year-old Ramirez, from Heredia, Costa Rica, represents a step up in competition for Flores. Ramirez holds a record of 17-3 (12 KOs), but has lost three of his last four fights. In November, Ramirez was knocked out by up-and-comer Dwyke Flemmings Jnr. But Flores will not take him lightly.

“Every fight is a 50-50 fight,” he said. “I don’t ever say any fight is 70-30 fight, or 100 per cent win, because it’s boxing, anything can happen. That’s how I train for every fight, I try to leave no stone unturned because one stone unturned could cost you a whole career.

“My mindset is to stay focused and to not underestimate my opponent,” Flores concluded. “I got to be cautious and watch my every move and not to make a mistake that could cost me.”