Gabe Flores Jr. looking to impress in Texas

From the ‘keep your eye on this hot prospect’ department…

18-year old, junior lightweight phenom Gabriel Flores Jr. (10-0, 5 KO’s) will again look to impress when he faces off against Edward Kakembo (10-5, 3 KO’s) on December 14th in Corpus Christi, Texas at the American Bank Centre.

In his last fight, in September, he had to get off the canvas to beat rugged Roger “El Puas” Gutierrez (7-2-1, 4 KO’s) fighting at the Save Mart Centre in Fresno, California.

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While he had to go the distance to get the win, and had to rise from the canvas to do it, (probably not the performance he was hoping for in front of a hometown audience, and on TV), the truth is he showed a lot of resolve and composure in regaining control of the fight after the knockdown; it was another important step in his development as a complete fighter.

Flores moved into double digits in the win column with his 10th straight victory in September, since turning pro in May of last year, and will once again be looking to impress in Texas.

Top Rank Promotions, who signed Flores as a 16-year old, have kept the former United States national champion busy as he enters his 11th fight in his 18 months since signing on to punch for pay.

Flores, who went 91-7 as an amateur, has looked very impressive so far in his professional run displaying considerable hand speed and impressive ring movement. He also has the backing of boxing’s premier promoter in Top Rank. However, that backing comes with a lot of expectations and pressure. Thus far, in his still developing career, Flores has shown a lot of composure for a teenager being showcased time and again on boxing’s big stages.

It was in Flores’ impressive UD win over Texas tough guy James De Herrera this past July, at the same Fresno arena as his last (September) win, that impressed many in boxing. Herrera stood toe to toe with Flores, got right in his grill and did an early-career gut check on the Stockton, California based teenager; Flores responded like a pro and passed the test in impressive fashion.

Flores, who sadly lost his mother to gang violence in a random shooting when he was only 12 years old, will again be looking to impress in his last bout of 2018.

In a recent interview Flores made it clear he is fast embracing the opportunity to be a role model for other young boxers in his hometown of Stockton, a city that has suffered its share of gang problems.

“I want to open their eyes for them to know they can accomplish their own dreams. This opportunity is a dream come true. I’m from Stockton. I had the odds against me, and now I’m here. They now know they can do something with their lives, just like I did with mine."

While it’s very early days yet, and Top Rank has lots of time to let the still-teenage Flores develop in the ring, don’t be surprised to see more impressive performances in 2019 as he continues to develop and moves towards tougher competition.

Flores advisor Rick Mirigian knows a thing or two about building a regional star having expertly guided World Boxing Council (WBC) world champion Jose Ramirez from a popular local attraction into a one-man franchise in California’s Central Valley; Mirigian says Flores is going to be a major star.

If the impressive performances keep piling up, it may happen sooner than later for the exciting, young Flores, and the next step on the journey happens Friday night in Texas.