LAS VEGAS -- Gabriel Flores Jr., a 16-year-old junior lightweight with a strong amateur background and gripping backstory, will turn pro after signing a promotional contract with Top Rank, chairman Bob Arum announced on Wednesday.
But because Flores, of Stockton, California, is so young, he cannot fight professionally in the United States yet. He won't have his first bout until at least May, when he turns 17 and can apply for a special permit in various states, including Nevada and California.
"Why did we sign a 16½-year-old -- I think is because the younger we sign fighters the longer the guys in Top Rank feel they'll have me around," the 84-year-old Arum joked at the final news conference for the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas undercard at the Wynn resort.
"I think he's the youngest fighter Top Rank has ever signed. He's a tremendous prospect, ranked No. 1 in his weight division in the amateur ranks. He has great natural skills and ability. Our matchmakers believe that will make him a star."
Flores, a member of the U.S. junior national team in 2015 and 2016, comes into the pro ranks having gone 91-7 as an amateur and having won the 2016 U.S. junior national championship at 138 pounds. In 2015, he claimed a silver medal at the world junior championships at 125 pounds and a gold medal in the same division at the U.S. junior national championships.
Flores will enter the pro ranks having endured much in his life.
"I know a lot of people have high expectations of me and I plan on exceeding all of them," said Flores, who started boxing at age 7. "It wasn't easy getting to this point. I lost my mother at the age of 12. It was gang-violence-related. It took my mother away from me. She got shot in the back. They said if she would have made it she would have been paralyzed. She didn't make it, but right now, today, she's looking down on me and she's smiling right now."
Flores' mother, Juanita Maldonado, was shot while attending a child's birthday party in Stockton on March 17, 2013. She died the following day at age 35. Four others were also shot, reportedly by three men, though no arrests have been made.
"I could have just gave up on my dreams but giving up on my dreams would have been giving up on my mother," Flores said. "I'm just grateful to be in this position and want to make her proud."
Flores said he wants to be a role model to kids in Stockton, a city gripped by gang violence.
"My mom wasn't the only one I lost in my family," said Flores, one of six children. "I lost my uncle to gang violence. That's why I look forward to fighting in my hometown so I can promote anti-gang-violence. I want the kids to know right from wrong and the consequences. I want to stop the violence in the city I was born in and the city I love."
Flores is trained and managed by his father, Gabriel Flores Sr., whose own involvement in gangs landed him in prison for a stretch. He turned his back on gang life years ago and also trains Top Rank junior lightweight prospect Andy Vences (16-0, 10 KOs). Flores' adviser is Rick Mirigian, who also handles blue-chip junior welterweight prospect and 2012 U.S. Olympian Jose Ramirez.
Flores has ring experience sparring with quality fighters, including featherweight world titleholder Oscar Valdez and junior featherweight contender Jessie Magdaleno, both of whom have matches on the Pacquiao-Vargas undercard.
"I'd say I'm a pure boxer. I like to keep my distance and use my jab and my straight punches, but if it comes down to it, I can fight on the inside," Flores said. "I can do anything it takes to win. My favorite boxer of all time is Roy Jones Jr. Sometimes I'll do a little showboating like he does, and sometimes I do that little jump-in hook."