Unbeaten Flores May Be In For Wakeup Call vs. Wilson

Takoma Park cruiserweight Darnell Wilson says he battles insomnia and did not sleep for nearly 48 hours before his two most recent fights. Wilson's opponents, however, struggle mightily just to stay awake when in the ring with him.

In his most recent bout, last June, Wilson, 33, landed a left hook in the 11th round that knocked opponent Emmanuel Nwodo unconscious and sprawled on the ring canvas, his left leg twisted violently under him. The punch, after a long, tough fight, became an instant sensation, widely hailed as the knockout of the year in boxing circles. It gave Wilson the vacant U.S. Boxing Association cruiserweight title, enjoyed a healthy Internet afterlife and further enhanced the fearsome reputation of the fighter known as "The Ding-A-Ling Man."

"People made music videos of it; that made me laugh," Wilson said as he traveled to Dover, Del., earlier this week for tonight's 12-round bout against undefeated former amateur star B.J. Flores.

The fight with Flores, to be televised by ESPN2 from the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, is a frustrating one for Wilson, who has a record of 22-5-3 with 19 knockouts. Initially, it appeared the winner would be in line for a mandatory challenge of International Boxing Federation cruiserweight (200 pounds) titlist Steve Cunningham, but that sanctioning organization clarified the "eliminator" was only for a guaranteed No. 2 ranking.

The No. 1 spot will go to the winner of a bout in April between former titleholders O'Neil Bell and light heavyweight Tomasz Adamek, both of whom Wilson said declined to fight him.

Flores, 29, of Willard, Mo., said he at first was offered a spot on the undercard of tonight's card but asked to be placed in the main event when he learned an opponent hadn't been found for Wilson. "I said, 'Give me the fight that's going to change my life, not the one that's not going to do so much for my career.' "

A boxer-puncher with good mobility, Flores, 20-0 with 13 knockouts, won U.S. amateur heavyweight titles in 2001 and 2002 then turned pro rather than wait for the 2004 Olympics.

Uncomfortable boxing at heavyweight in the pro ranks, he dropped to cruiserweight, where he has gone undefeated. He sparred with former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman in preparation for Wilson's power.

Wilson, an awkward but deceptively quick slugger, said he has found a prescription for the insomnia, slept well and trained well.

"One thing I will say, if he comes to go to war with me, trying to take me out, almost as soon as the war starts, the fight is going to be over," Wilson said.

-- John Scheinman