Top Rank Inc’s Andres Cortes recently caught up with me, Lukie, to talk about his career and his future in the sport of boxing. Cortes originally signed to Mayweather Promotions after a legendary sparring session he had with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, became one of the breakout success stories from the Top Rank Bubble during COVID-19, along with Jared Anderson, Xander Zayas, and Raymond Muratalla.
Cortes fought often, being a Las Vegas resident probably helped as well, as Cortes had three straight knockout wins in 2021 including one over former world title contender Genesis Servania, a man who famously dropped two-division world champion Oscar Valdez.
“I want and believe I will be a world champion by the end of 2023,” said Cortes when speaking to me from his Toyota Tacoma truck after working out. “I will fight, but I am chasing the [world] titles, at the end of the day. I am in it to be the best, and my dream has always been to be a world champion.”
As for Cortes most recent fight, and win, defeating Luis Melendez the bout was a long time coming.
“Really [Luis Melendez] called me out like a year ago,” said Andres Cortes reflecting on when Cortes stopped Mark Bernaldez and Mattice got a win over Thomas Mattice at the Virgin Hotels, in Las Vegas, Nevada the day before Canelo vs. Caleb Plant. “We fought on the same card a while back, and ever since then it was seeing when we could make that fight happen.”
The bout saw Cortes pick up another marquee win against a game opponent and with May being a big month for Top Rank, with a rumored potential super fight between Vasiliy Lomachenko and Devin Haney taking place for all four lightweight world titles, Cortes would be a prime candidate to step-up in competition on this card, especially if the fight lands on pay-per-view, and needs accompanying bouts.
“Me as a fighter I want the best, and obviously I am chasing the title,” said Cortes when reflecting on wanting to fight WBO super featherweight world champion Emanuel Navarrete. “Once you cross that 10-round line you can fight anybody, in my opinion. You can go ten-rounds, twelve-rounds, it doesn’t really matter, and really all the big fights happen at ten-rounds. I was previously only fighting eights [rounders] and this was my first ten, and I think this year I should have one of those type of fights.“
It was announced today that Emanuel Navarrete has vacated the WBO featherweight world title, and will stay at super featherweight as Navarrete won his third world title in his third weight class last Friday stopping Liam Wilson. The bout wasn’t without drama as Wilson knocked down Navarrete to give fight fans a thrill.
When commenting on what would happen if Cortes fought Liam Wilson, the man who troubled Navarrete, he simply smiled and said "I think I knockout that guy out!”
Cortes doesn’t lack confidence and wants the best fighters in the division, including Emanuel Navarrete.
