Matt Griego and Bryan Aquino clash February 4

Matt Griego turned professional in 2016.

He had hoped to be further along in his career, but a pandemic and unfulfilled opportunities, plus the beautiful birth of his daughter, - have slowed down the flyweights progression.

Still, Griego is undefeated in 12 fights with 8 KOs. He’s slated to take on his toughest test to date in battling Puerto Rico’s Bryan Aquino, 12-2 6 KOs in Griego’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
 
Griego has expressed he needs to get busy now and looks forward to more opportunities when they present themselves. 

"I need to be more active and take the right chances when I get them," he said.
 
When asked what he meant by the right opportunities, he did elaborate when pressed. In a time where a lot of fighters want to pad their records on the local scenes, never taking chances to step it up, Griego made sense when asked.

“I will take the opportunity if a ranked fighters’ camp calls me, and I’m offered a bigger fight. I don’t think its wise to fight someone who doesn’t add substance to me in not progressing with meaning and having a chance to take their ranking.”

Wrecking Crew Promotions event coordinator Doris Robinson said making the fight with Aquino has been a smooth process.

“When I was looking for a fighter for Matt, it sometimes can be hard with the weight of 112, but when I was searching, I saw Bryan had been training and wanted to get back in the ring after a few years off. It just made sense for both to match them, and Matt and Brian agreed.”
 
Aquino is now ready to get back in the ring and believes he and Griego will be a good fight to test each other. Aquino is also not worried about fighting in Griego’s hometown.
 
“I have traveled to other fighters’ hometowns, it is not a worry to me," Aquino told me last week. "The fans know who wins a fight, hometown or not. It’s going to be a good tough fight.” 
 
The fight looks on paper to be evenly matched, with both having over 100 amateur fights and almost the same amount in the pro ranks.
 
Both fighters know it will be a tough fight. Griego feels Aquino will bring out the best in him. 
 
“I know he is a good fighter, a southpaw and we seem to both be boxers not punchers style wise. He is the best fighter I will have faced in my career.” says Griego.
 
Aquino feels the same - with Griego being a good step up as well. “I know he is a good fighter and I am excited to match our skills when we get in the ring.” 
 
Fighting in Albuquerque, Aquino will be battling the mile-high altitude and the outdoor freezing temperatures.

“I’ll just bundle up," said Aquino. "I know I am more than ready to put on a good show.”
 
In fighting in his hometown of Albuquerque, Griego is glad to have his camp at home so he can be close to his family and daughter. Griego is also happy to have his longtime trainer, Manuel Anaya, in his corner.

Griego has had others in camp help him and recently went to Las Vegas, NV. and trained with former teammate Brian Mendoza. Griego learned a lot while being in Vegas, but he is happy with Anaya and looks to him as family rather than a trainer.
 
“Manuel is like family and he has always been loyal to me from day one, he is open for me to always learning from others and sees the benefits. He has always been here for me and he to wants me to take more opportunities to step it up. “
 
The step-up begins February 4th against Aquino.

UNDERCARD
 
In the undercard, popular welterweight Josh Torres (24-7-2 14 KOs) takes on Rodd Manuel (20-21-1).

Maximus Moya (2-0 2 KOs) vs. Jazzma Houge (4-10-1).
Jordane Garcia (4-1-2) vs. Nina Garcia.
Steven Trujeque (0-1) vs. Jose Vialpondo (0-1).
Justice Jiron (1-0) vs. Michael Peterson (0-6).