Junior middleweight Ismael Flores stepped in at late notice in place of Alan Sandoval to face highly touted Isaac Lucero on the undercard of Gilberto Ramirez-David Benavidez in Las Vegas last weekend

After 10 rounds, the relatively unknown Argentine fighter, who fights out of Spain, made quite the impression when he pulled off the unlikely upset claiming a wide unanimous decision.

"The victory over Isaac Lucero was very important to me," Flores (18-1-1, 12 KOs) told The Ring. "I knew he was a tough and experienced opponent, so I went in fully focused right from the start.

"I think I fought a smart fight, managing the pace well and adapting to whatever he threw at me in each round."

Despite the big win, what followed was low key.

"I celebrated quietly, with my team and my closest friends and family," he said. "After all that hard work, I needed that moment to enjoy it and appreciate what we'd achieved together."

The 27-year-old is a testament to staying in shape and always being prepared.

"I accepted the fight with just two weeks’ notice, but the truth is I never stop training," he said. "I didn't have a fight lined up at the time, but I was in good physical shape.

"Even so, it's true that a full training program isn't the same as a short one, so I had to start strongly, set the pace from the outset and then make adjustments as I went along.

"For me, it was a huge opportunity, and I couldn't let it slip by. These are the kinds of fights that can turn your career around, and I think I rose to the occasion. I went into the fight convinced I could win, and I proved it in the ring."

Flores is ready for more

"I want to keep improving, seek out bigger and bigger fights, and climb the rankings," he said. "I'm ready for whatever challenges come my way and I'm really keen to keep proving what I'm made of in the ring."

Flores’ matchmaker/ advisor, Oscar Zardain, was keen to explain how the fight came about and praised his fighter’s performance.

"I saw that Lucero was ranked No. 4 in the WBA rankings and Ismael No. 9, I knew it could be a very interesting fight, both from a sporting perspective and for television," he said.

"Ismael put in a very complete performance. Nobody was expecting him to do so well, and he proved far superior to Lucero. I love it when I travel with boxers who aren't well known to the general public and they spring a surprise.

"Ismael has earned the respect and the right to be ranked in the world's top three. Following this victory, I hope to be able to help him secure a title shot or a top-level eliminator bout."