By Ben Jacobs

Cicilio Flores, strength and conditioning coach to Vasyl Lomachenko assured BoxingScene.com that his charge is fully prepared for the step up in weight as he bids to dethrone Román ‘Rocky’ Martínez of his WBO super featherweight title on Saturday in New York.

Flores, based in California, is of the belief that a stoppage of Lomachenko’s Puerto Rican rival would send out a message to the other champions in the weight class.

“It would be a huge statement if we could stop him, especially in a new weight division,” Flores said.

“Take nothing away from Román Martínez, he’s a great champion, a tough guy and a smart fighter.  He’s a tough test so it is a good match-up.  It’s going to have Lomachenko make history when he wins and Martínez is definitely a good champion to beat.

“The training camp went well,” he continued. 

“He’s fighting in a different division, 130lbs.  The only difference was that he was able to eat more and work on his strength and his speed as well.

“He doesn’t have a problem at featherweight but 4lbs, especially for a small guy is a lot of weight, it makes a difference.  At 130lbs he can eat more and it is just easier for him to make the weight.

“This is my fifth training camp with him and every time he gives it 100% and, now he is in this position to be a champion in a different division.”

Flores was ringside at StubHub Center last week for the enthralling clash between Orlando Salido and Francisco Vargas.  Talk exists of a possible rematch between the two or even a rematch between Salido and Lomachenko, given that the Mexican beat him in what was the Ukrainian’s second professional contest.

“Lomachenko was ringside with us and the whole team for Salido versus Vargas.  It was a close fight.  I saw it live so it’s a bit different on TV but I gave Salido the edge.  It was a tough fight to judge, a close fight but I think he won it.  He’s going to come out here to New York and it’s another option for Lomachenko to have that rematch in the future.”

Flores, who has in the past worked with the likes of former middleweight king, Sergio Martínez, also prepares another Ukrainian, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, who recently knocked out Nadjib Mohammedi with a vicious right hand in the second round.  Lithuanian welterweight prospect Egidijus Kavaliauskas, who has a stoppage victory over Prenice Brewer is another of his clients.