Andres Campos is eager to face the best opposition available. His team is hopeful statement wins can translate to a world title opportunity.

The unbeaten flyweight will face his toughest test to date in Jesus Silvestre tonight at El Gimnasio Municipal in La Barnechea, Chile. The fight will headline a Dragon Fire Boxing Latino card that will air live on DirecTV in Argentina. 

Campos (12-0, 3 knockouts), who resides in nearby Santiago, last fought on February 27, knocking out Javier Martinez with a vicious body shot in the fourth round. According to manager Tony Tolj, the win over Martinez was the first time ever a fighter from Chile defeated an Argentine-based fighter in Argentina.

The 25-year-old Campos has fought modest opposition thus far, including defeating Pedro Villegas in March 2020 in a clash of unbeaten fighters. 

Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Campos has trained in Las Vegas, Nevada and in Australia. He has sparred the likes of Andrew and Jason Moloney. 

Tolj has high expectations of Campos, believing the prizefighter is destined for success and can put Chile on the boxing map. Tolj also manages the Moloney brothers. 

“Andres is looking in tremendous shape, and has put in the hard work,” Tolj told Boxingscene Friday night. “2022 is the year we plan to step up in opposition and have our (goal) of a world championship later this year or 2023. 

“Campos plans to head over to Australia after this fight to spar with Andrew and Jason Moloney, Bruno Tarimo, Luke Boyd, (and) Alex Winwood. The stable of lightweights is exceptional and the team all helps each other go to that next level.”

Silverstre (37-7, 26 KOs), who resides in Tepic, Mexico, has won his last six bouts since losing to Adrian Hernandez Navarrete in February 2016. Silvestre challenged for a world title belt at 105 pounds, losing each time by decision, including against Hekkie Budler in February 2015.

In the co-feature, junior lightweight Junior Cruzat (8-0, 5 KOs) of Llanquihue, Chile will square off against Argentina’s Daniel Sosa (5-6-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round bout. 

Cruzat is also managed by Tolj.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing