The "Stockton King" Gabe Flores Jr. will return to his hometown for Slugfest in Mudville at the Banner Island Ballpark this weekend.
The 209 native boxer who now lives in Las Vegas will fight in a match presented by G-Squad Entertainment. The event is promoted as the "first boxing event to take place at the Stockton Ports Stadium."
Flores took to social media on Monday to state that he will be defending his "WBA Intercontinental Title against Ronal Ron" on Saturday, July 20.
"This will be my best show yet," Flores said in a video posted on his Instagram.
The fight will begin at 6 p.m. at the Banner Island Ballpark, 404 W. Fremont St. in Stockton.
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Before the fight there will be a free car show presented by the G-Squad Entertainment and Stockton's Finest. The car show begins at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with four DJ's, live music, cash prizes and trophies, a flyer states.
There will also be a special guest appearance by actor Brice Gonzalez best known for his role in the Flamin' Hot movie and for his social media presence as a member of ENKY BOYS.
The last time Flores fought in Stockton was his World Boxing Association (WBA) Continental USA lightweight belt fight against Julian Rodarte on March 16. He won the fight with "a split decision of 98-92, 98-92 and 94-96," the World Boxing Association website states.
Last year in May, Flores defeated Derrick Murray in what was supposed to be an eight-round lightweight bout at the Stockton Arena. This was his first fight in his hometown since 2019, The Record reported in May 2023.
“It makes me feel so alive being back like it’s not breathtaking it's more like it gives me life,” Flores said during a media day last year. “I’ve been trying to get back here since 2019 since we had that historic night in the Stockton Arena. The pandemic and COVID-19 happened so it was tough to get back but we finally made it happen.”
The Stockton lightweight won the fight during the first round with a knockout just 32-seconds into the fight, The Record wrote.
Saturday's event will not only feature Flores but three golden state boxers: Sacramento's Lorenzo Powell, San Jose's Steve Canela, and Salinas' Andy Rodriguez.
The event's finale will include a fireworks show, flyers state.
Gabe Flores Jr. careers timeline
The 24-year-old Stocktonian started boxing at a young age.
Flores was just 7-years-old when he began boxing earning numerous championships, including the National Silver Gloves 119-pound title in February 2014 in Independence, Missouri, and two Ringside World Championships in Springfield, Missouri.
Tragedy didn't stop Flores from achieving his boxing goals.
His mother was shot while attending a child’s birthday party on March 17, 2013, at a Stockton home near Stribley Park. She died the following day at the age of 35-years-old, The Record reported then. Four other people were also shot.
“I got to stay strong because my mom is looking down on me,” Flores told The Record as a 14-year-old freshman at Chavez High. “I know she wants me to live my dream.”
He told The Record that boxing has given him confidence, helped sharpen his mind and helped him cope with his mother’s death.
“If I can be the best boxer to ever live, that’s my goal,” Flores said in 2015.
According to the WBA website, Flores record stats are 23 wins, two loses and eight knockouts, as of March of this year.
Last year, the Cesar Chavez High School alumni said he hoped that his return to Stockton would motivate future 209 boxers with his similar background.
“Growing up, I never had somebody to look up to so to now have everybody coming out to see a young kid from Stockton, California coming out and performing it helps gives the community hope,” Flores said then. “You just got to keep your head up and believe.”
How to attend Slugfest in Mudville
Tickets for Slugfest in Mudville start at $10, plus fees. For tickets visit mlb.tickets.com.
- Location: Banner Island Ballpark, 404 W. Fremont St. in Stockton
- Hours: 6 p.m. Saturday, July 20
- Information: gsquadent.com
Record Reporter Shannon Belt contributed to this report.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
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