Miguel Flores and his passionate ambition to keep his brother’s name alive

Featherweight Miguel Flores became a professional boxer nearly four months after witnessing his brother’s death during his last professional fight. 

Fifteen years later, Flores, now a 31-fight veteran at 32 years old, is set to face Michael Chase Nelson at the Bayou Event Center in Houston on Sept. 7.

Flores recalled seeing Benjamin Flores being stopped in the eighth round by Al Seeger in April 2009 in Dallas. The bout was a black-tie event put on by the Dallas Real Estate Council to raise money for charity. As a result, much of their family was not present, but Miguel’s current corner, Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro, worked his sibling’s corner that night. The Flores family has trained at the Main Street Boxing Gym for what feels like an eternity.

“It’s going to sound weird, but I love talking about it because it keeps my brother’s name alive,” Flores said. “I see it as everything happens for a reason. When it is your time to go, it is your time to go. I’m sure my brother is up there proud of me.”

In a fight that Flores described as “neutral,” with neither fighter dominating, Seeger landed blows that knocked Benjamin into the ropes.

“Referee Lawrence Cole saw my brother get hit with a couple of punches, and then my brother fell back on the ropes, and Lawrence made the decision to stop it,” Flores said. “My brother just kind of laid down on the mat. I remember thinking something was wrong. I sensed it right away.

“Obviously, my coaches, Bobby and Aaron, they were there that night. They tried to hold me back. But I knew something was wrong. I jumped in the ring, and that’s the last time my brother ever had his eyes open, because after that he collapsed.”

Miguel described what happened next as he took the trip to the hospital with his brother and his father, Miguel Flores Sr., close behind. The family received the news that Benjamin needed brain surgery.

“Everybody was in shock,” Flores said. “The doctor said it’s beyond serious. That’s when, unfortunately, he was induced into a coma. He was in a coma for five days. And that’s when my parents made the tough decision to remove him from life support.”

Flores ultimately passed away on May 5, 2009, a significant date for Mexican fight fans but a grim reminder of the serious consequences boxing can have. 

The doctors didn’t know exactly what caused it, but they speculated it could have been either one punch or an accumulation of punches. Despite the traumatic incident, Flores turned professional, having trained beside his brother for all of Benjamin’s pro fights.

Flores lost to junior featherweight contender Sam Goodman in October. Prior to that, he had a draw with Abner Mares in September, a fight many felt he won. Flores is aiming for a title, which could be his last goal in boxing. His upcoming fight is a “stay-busy” bout, allowing his local fans and friends to support him before he seeks a big fight. The 26-year-old Nelson (21-2-1, 8 KOs) is on a two-fight win streak after being upset by Walter Santibanes in 2022. Nelson, a native of Ohio, has had his two comeback victories in Colombia.

Flores has a tattoo of his brother on his left arm, right above where the glove stops, so he is looking at him once he is ready to make the ring walk.

“I have him in my mind, even when sometimes I’m tired,” Flores said. “I’m like, ‘I really need your help for this one.’ It just feels like I can go beyond training capabilities sometimes. I think that is because of my brother. Just me thinking about him already helps me a lot.”

Flores now trains several fighters himself, and admits that his emphasis on defense stems from that fateful spring night that left an indelible mark on his life.

“The number one thing I teach is defense, and that comes back from that tragedy,” Flores said. “And like I said, I’m sure my brother is still somewhere around that Main Street Boxing Gym.”