Gabriel Flores Jr. dominates Josec Ruiz in Las Vegas

Super sharp Gabriel Flores had to much game for game Josec Ruiz, pitching a shutout Thursday night at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

All three judges scored the bout 100-89.

The taller Flores (18-0, 6 KOs) flashed fast hands and feet in the opening stanza. He jabbed and fired combinations. Ruiz, a loser in only two of 26 bouts, tried to time Flores. Good luck with that. Flores, 20, landed a couple of hard left hooks as well. Ruiz jabbed to the body. Flores used more lateral movement in round two.

He popped his left and connected with an uppercut. Seconds later, a left hook and right-hand floored Ruiz for the first time in his career. Flores went for the kill but couldn’t put Ruiz away.

Rounds three and four were all Flores. He landed a double left hook to the head and body. His jab was sharp. He circled set, and fired. Ruiz stalked and finally landed a sweeping right hand. Flores connected with a lead right and long left hook. Ruiz took it.

Flores moved and boxed in round five. Ruiz stalked, but Flores moved away and stabbed him with jabs. Ruiz was a step behind. In round six, Flores landed a number of hooks and crosses that appeared to shake up Ruiz. Flores went back to work in round seven. Ruiz connected with a shot to the ribs. Flores landed a solid one-two in round eight. He kept moving around, though his father-trainer wanted him to sit down on his punches.

In round nine, Flores continued his dominant performance. He boxed and punched. Another left hook landed. Ruiz tried to up the ante in the 10^th and final round. He connected with a right. Flores moved away and fired.

Ruiz threw a bomb that drew air. Flores connected with a lead right to the chin.

“I had to stay focused and hit and not be hit,” said Flores who also said he was dealing with a back injury.

The Flores fight had been moved up to the main after Mikkel LesPierre’s manager, Jose Taveras, tested positive for COVID-19 this morning. LesPierre was to face former champion Jose Pedraza.

Undercard results:

Robert Rodriguez (8-0-1, 4 KOs) showed he was the better undefeated fighter by stopping Adrian Servin (9-1-1, 3 KOs) in two rounds. Rodriguez overwhelmed Servin with shots scoring a knockdown in round two. The bout was stopped soon after.

In a bruising super middleweight six-rounder, physical Clay Collard (7-2-3) outworked previously undefeated David Kaminsky. Two judges had Collard winning 58-56 while the third gave the edge to Kaminsky by the same score. Hard to fathom Kaminsky winning as Collard was consistently busier. Collards victory was his third in succession over an unbeaten opponent.

Super lightweight Victor Rodriguez (3-0, 1 KO) was too much for Justin Horsley (0-2, 0 KOs) winning an easy four round decision.

Super featherweight Frevian Gonzalez (3-0, 1 KO) whipped Jose Martinez (2-1, 1 KO). Scores were 39-37 twice, and 40-36.