WBO light flyweight champion Angel Acosta has the world title and arguably the most devastating left body hook in boxing today, but now he wants big fights, and perhaps just as important, big money.
After Acosta knocked out Ganigan Lopez to retain the WBO title on March 30 in Indio, California, Acosta was interviewed inside the ring and was asked about his future. Acosta said he preferred to stay at 108 pounds than rather move up to flyweight and attempt to unify against any of the other champions.
But unification isn't the only thing on his mind. Acosta also stated he wants big money fights and believes his skill-set and resume warrant bigger bouts for the future. In Acosta's 21-fight career, he has won 20 with all 20 of those victories coming by knockout, power that is very rare to see in a light flyweight boxer.
"I want to unify but I also want to get the big purses. I've shown that I can knock people out just like the people in the bigger divisions. I've had 21 fights and 20 of them have ended by knockout, so I want the big money," Acosta said in the post-fight interview, which took place immediately after his eighth-round win over Lopez on DAZN.
Back on the topic of unification, the division's top two champions not named Acosta are the Japanese pair of Ken Shiro (the WBC champion) and Hiroto Kyoguchi (the WBA "Super" champion). Acosta said he wouldn't be opposed to fighting those two and Acosta does have experience traveling to Japan for a world title fight as he did so in 2016 when he lost to Kosei Tanaka with the WBO title on the line.
Aside from Shiro and Kyoguchi, there's also IBF champion Felix Alvarado, who has yet to defend his title since winning it last October. Alvarado will travel to Kobe, Japan for his first title defense as he faces Reiya Konishi on May 19.
"There are many champions in my division. For instance, Ken Shiro, who's the WBC Champion, there's another Japanese fighter who's the WBA Champion (Kyoguchi), and another Nicaraguan champion (Alvarado). I'd fight with any of those fighters," Acosta said.
But this isn't the first time the topic of purses and light flyweight champions has been brought up. Former world champion Hekkie Budler vacated his IBF title last year after a purse bid for a title defense against Alvarado had a winning bid of $25,000, with only 75 percent of it going to Budler. Budler vacating the title led the way for Alvarado to become a world champion when he defeated Randy Petalcorin.