Christian Robles is more than likely a fighter you’re unfamiliar with fighting in a division, flyweight, that is often neglected by major television networks with the exception of superstars like Roman Gonzalez, Michael Carabajal, and Ivan Calderon, who forced major networks to take notice and televise their bouts. Robles is hopeful that in due time his name will be up there with those names not just in terms of skill, but also getting his fights broadcast like those fighters and receiving checks that a heavyweight fighter might receive. 

Robles began his career in 2017 at a club show put on by boxing promoter Steve Bash and co-promoted by industry leader Top Rank Inc., but saw a two-year inactivity period before finding consistent fights under Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions in Hollywood, California at The Avalon, which take place on Sunday evenings, and are streamed on the internet.  

“It was just great to know that I was back on, performing and doing what I love,” said Robles when reflecting on his activity after his hiatus from boxing. “I am extremely grateful for 360 Promotions.”

Yet, Robles, who is trained by Marvin Somodio, a man you might have seen in the corner of Manny Pacquiao assisting Freddie Roach in some of his biggest fights ever, started boxing all because of family outings. 

“When I was a kid my uncles used to box me in Lincoln Park…they used to get on their knees and beat me and my little brothers up and it just made always want to fight,” said Robles reflectively. 

A chance encounter driving by a boxing gym with a sign that read ‘free week of boxing classes’ lead him to plead with his mom and dad to sign him up. The gym had more of a mixed martial artist focus and after a while, they moved him to the world-famous Wildcard Boxing Gym in Hollywood, California, ran by hall-of-fame boxing coach Freddie Roach, as Robles began to take the sport extremely serious. 

Robles who was born in Mexico was unable to compete in national tournaments based on his citizenship. In order to compete at the highest level of USA Boxing you have to be a citizen of the United States, not a resident, and because of this Robles was unable to compete in tournaments that counted towards your USA Boxing ranking. 

“It was really hard for me to get into all these national tournaments as it required U.S. citizenship and it is really hard to fake that document,” said Robles with a chuckle. “Every time I would go to a national tournament or the golden gloves they wouldn’t accept my application.”

That being said, Robles fought at the national PAL and won that, which gave him confidence heading into the pros, but with few options in amateur competition, Robles eventually turned pro since the highest form of competition in amateur boxing didn’t exist for him.

Despite a relatively small amateur background, Robles has sparred a who’s who amongst the lower weight classes including world champions such as Donnie Nietes, Zou Shiming, Jesus Cuellar, Brian Viloria Jessie Magdaleno, Scott Quigg, and most recently spent a camp with one of the best of this generation, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez. Gonzalez, one of Robles’ idols is someone who he reflected upon deeply.

“I was preparing for a fight, and there is no one to get you ready for a fighter better than the champ, and I believe he will reclaim his position as the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” said Robles deep in thought and somewhat in awe that he sparred a fighter he looked up to. “The part that gave me the most confidence though, was they keep calling me back, the fact I was actually doing good and it was being recognized.[SIC]”

Robles as aforementioned trained by Marvin Somodio, but says it isn’t just the coaching, but that Somodio has been so experienced at the highest levels of the sport, that gives him reassurance and confidence.

“The last fight I had it was the first fight I actually had him in the corner for a professional fight, and it was the calmest I had ever been in the dressing room,” said Robles. “Usually that is the time I have the most nerves…but I knew everything was going to be okay, and we came out did our job and it was all laughs afterward.” 

The other thing to mention with the lower weight fighters, especially flyweights and light flyweights is the fact that based on the limited fighters in this division in the U.S. you will find one of two things, A) harder fights earlier in your career based on limited selection of opponents to choose from based on budgetary restraints as well as B) a smaller pool of opponents could see catchweight bouts with bigger fighters as well to keep you active. Both of these mean, you don’t have a ton of time to develop in the smaller weights. 

Robles, a hard-working fighter with a positive attitude is also a scholar as he was enrolled in college up until recently majoring in kinesiology, something that he wants to do finish in the future, but working a job along with training to be a professional fighter combined with school just came to be too much for the young fighter. 

The future looks bright for Robles, who hopes to win a world title in five years, though his coach believes it’ll be much sooner, and aims for just three years. Robles mentions that he has no problem making 112 lbs and that he could make 108 lbs, and if everything in boxing goes his way could allow for him to be a three-division world champion, which is a very rare feat, but before we talk that way he has to win some meaningful fights down the road to be compared to legends who have done that. 

Robles is a young talented fighter training with a highly experienced coach in an exciting division you should keep your eye for.