Boxing‘s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout ratio (Artur Beterbiev), the longest-reigning junior bantamweight world champion (Jerwin Ancajas) and the sport’s youngest ticket-seller (Gabriel Flores Jr.) took center stage Thursday at the final press conference for Saturday’s ESPN-televised card at Stockton Arena (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) .
IBF light heavyweight world champion Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KOs) will take on the hard-hitting Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (24-1, 17 KOs) in the main event, while Ancajas (30-1-2, 20 KOs) will make the seventh defense of his IBF junior bantamweight world title against No. 1. contender Ryuichi Funai (31-7, 22 KOs) in the co-feature.
Flores (12-0, 5 KOs), the 19-year-old Stockton native making his grand homecoming, will fight Eduardo Pereira Reis (23-5, 19 KOs) in a six-round lightweight special attraction. At the press conference, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs presented Flores with a key to the city and the NBA G League’s Stockton Kings gave the hometown hero a custom jersey and belt.
Flores and his adviser, Rick Mirigian, did not want this event to pass without giving back. They awarded a local high school senior, Sherwood Ruffin-Turner, with a scholarship check to assist with his collegiate studies. Ruffin-Turner is a straight-A student who works two jobs and dreams of becoming an immigration attorney.
Gabriel Flores Jr.
“Since I was in elementary school, since I was an amateur, I always looked at this beautiful arena with a dream of fighting here. I was born and raised in Stockton, California. I’ve never lived in any other city. I had tough times here, but I love my city. I lost my mom, I lost an uncle. So, I’ve been through a lot, and I’ve overcome it. I just want to fight in my city, so come May 4, there’s going to be a lot of kids in attendance, a lot of parents, the whole community. They’re going to see me do something great, which is go after my dreams. I’m becoming successful. I’m going after my dreams. They’re going to see that they have a lot of opportunities out there. They’re not limited. They’re in this city and they can stay hungry and fight for what they want.”
On his opponent
“I’m ready. I’ve seen his tape. I see what he’s going to try and do. When I go in there, my boxing IQ is high. It’s definitely something he hasn’t seen before. I’ve fought in national and international tournaments {as an amateur}. I’ve seen every style.”
Rick Mirigian
“Gabriel has come a long way to put this many people in this building. It’s no small achievement. We have a big world championship night of boxing, and there will be a full house come Saturday night.”
