Inspired by tragedy, Gabe Flores Jnr has given Stockton something to cheer about

Lightweight Gabriel Flores Jnr is fueled by his local fans. 

Flores has scored four straight wins in his hometown of Stockton, California. Now he is looking for a fifth. 

On Wednesday, he fights an hour away from Stockton at the Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown, California and the 24-year-old meets Jose Arellano in the main event of ProBox TV’s first telecast in California. 

Flores has faced ups and downs, both in and out of the ring. At the age of just 16,he became the youngest fighter to sign terms with Top Rank and was trending to be a breakout star before he lost two out of three fights. 

The first loss was to Luis Alberto Lopez and the other was to Giovanni Cabrera and those losses derailed his trajectory so he went back home to Stockton to regain his momentum. Flores has since won four straight fights, all in Stockton, with three bouts promoted by his father and trainer Gabe Flores Snr’s G-Squad Entertainment. 

Win or lose, the people of Stockton embrace Flores.

“They’ve just been with me through thick and thin,” Flores Jnr told BoxingScene. “They understand me being born and raised in Stockton.”

Flores’ mother Juanita Maldonado died on March 18, 2013 when she was murdered in a drive-by shooting during a birthday party when Flores was just 12 years old. Flores went on to win nationals not long after her death, in her honor. 

Prior to his upcoming fight, Flores once again faced tragedy after his cousin passed away. Flores, who now trains in Las Vegas with his father Gabe Flores Snr, former world champion Nonito Donaire Jnr and Ronald Simms, is returning to the region that seems where he fights his best. 

“It is just going to push me to do better,” Flores Jnr, 25-2 (8 KOs), said. “Long live my cousin. He always looked out for me. He was like my biggest hype man. He’s always proud of me, always at the fight, one of the loudest ones there. So, this fight is going to be dedicated to him and so I’m going to go out there and put on the performance of my life.

“You get dealt a certain hand of cards and you got to play them the best you can,” Flores added. “It’s not about where you are at, it’s about how you bounce back. What’s your next move? What are you going to do about it? That’s mainly what it’s about when it comes to succeeding in life.” 

The tragedies Flores has been through makes him a relatable figure in Stockton. Tragedy sadly is commonplace on the rough side of the city, and 2024 saw 20% more homicides in Stockton than the year before. But Flores has become a symbol of hope. 

“The odds are stacked against us but we push through,” Flores said. “We’re going to make it on top, and it just brings out the best in me because I feel so alive. I feel so comfortable.”

That comfort has led to some of his best performances. A 2019 knockout in the Stockton Arena, a 2023 first-round KO of Derrick Murray. Flores has been a star in Stockton since he was a teenager and, given the adversity he has faced, suffering two losses in his career has provided a deeper connection with his fans who have been on the journey with him. 

“It’s never a straight or easy road,” Flores said. “I feel like now is our time to shine. You just got to keep on striving. You know you can’t be quick to give up.”

Flores faces Arellano of Aurora, Colorado, a fighter who has enjoyed a full camp and is looking to rejuvenate his career. Arellano, who trains Javiel Centeno, works with Xander Zayas. 

The ProBox TV platform has given Arellano, 11-2 (6 KOs), an opportunity and he defeated Oscar Alvarez Guerrero in 2023. His lone fight in 2024 was a majority decision loss over eight rounds to Jaycob Gomez. 

“I feel he’s tough,” Flores said. “He’s going to be there all night. He’s got good conditioning. He’s not going to give up. He’s going to keep on trying to win at all costs and my job is just to break him down and do what I do.”