Karima Magazine May-June2107

HEADLINERS
Gabe Flores Jr.
good at something. They just need
to find it. I found what I’m good at
pretty early, but sometimes it takes
time to find it. No matter what, thoughjoining
a gang will get you no where in
life. You’ve got to live and in order to
live, you have to make sure you eat. You
want to enjoy your life and be happy. You
can’t do any of that if you’re in a gang. It
gets you no where.
Karima: So, Gabe-what keeps you going?
Just a love for the sport. That’s why I
came here in the first place, because I
love boxing. And now I can support my
family from it here and there. It’s everything
I want, but most of all I just really
love the sport.
Karima: Do you ever have days, where
you want to just go hang our with your
friends or go to the mall instead of training?
Sometimes...it’s rare, though. You got to
know what you want in life. You have to
picture your dream as the most beautiful
thing in life and be willing to make those
sacrifices for it.
Karima: Is there anything else you want
to do aside from boxing or is it all about
the fight life for you right now?
Right now it’s all about the fight life and
my family. You know, what I want is to be
one of the greatest, work hard toward it,
and have my family while I’m enjoying it.
Karima: What do you see yourself doing
in 10 years from now?
Ten years from here, I see myself winning
a world title...more than one, actually.
Winning world titles in different weight
classes and probably making it in the Hall
of Fame. And just being an inspiration to
the kids.
Karima: So, let’s just say that you
suddenly make your first million
dollars...what’s the first thing you
would do?
Make sure my family is okay. Make sure
that they’re doing good...my sister and
my brother and make sure that they’re
eating, that they don’t have any trouble
paying their bills. I mean, if I have a million
dollars, then obviously I’m doing pretty
well for myself. I’m well fed. So, I’ll look
out for the ones near me and that’s what
I’ll do.
Karima: Okay, what’s the second thing
you’d do?
I’d probably treat myself. You know, but
who know...because we’re not there yet.
But there’s not much more I could want
right now. I’m just focused and ready
to win.
Karima: Alright-I have to ask this question,
because I promised one of your fans
that I would. What’s your favorite thing
to eat?
I love Mexican food. My favorite dish
is camarones rancheros from Nenas
Mexican restaurant. The tortillas there—
everything there is so good. I just love
everything about Mexican food.
KARIMA: Another fan question, do you
have a girlfriend?
No, I don’t
KARIMA: Getting back to boxing...how do
you prepare for your fights? Do you ever
watch videos of your opponents?
Always, always. I look at their mistakes
and how I can capitalize on them. I jump
rope, I shadow box, I hit mits, I hit the
weight bag, I hit the speed bag, I do everything.
I run, because when you are a
boxer-you have to become a runner too.
You got to put all the work in.
KARIMA: Who is you favorite fighter and
why?
Roy Jones Jr., because he is one of the
greatest of all times. I love how he could
fight and how he could show boat-just
everything he did.
KARIMA:Any advice for young aspiring
athletes in Stockton?
At points it’s going to feel like you can’t
do it. There’s going to be times when
you’re striving to reach your goals and
you are going to feel like you can’t, but
those are the times you need to push
harder. Those are the times that are going
to make you better and really make
you successful.
KARIMA: How can people stay updated
about you and your upcoming fights?
On my social media. Instagram
isg_squad_nation and twitter and
facebook, Rephard.com for shirts.
KARIMA: Thank you, Gabe and congratulations
on your success. We look forward
to seeing more and more of you in the
coming days!
YOU GOT TO KNOW WHAT
YOU WANT IN LIFE. YOU
HAVE TO PICTURE YOUR
DREAM AS THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL THING IN LIFE
AND BE WILLING TO MAKE
THOSE SACRIFICES FOR IT.
Pictured above: Gabe Fores Jr. & Gabe Flores Sr.
walking side by side in their custom Los Gallos
Boxing Academy warm-up jackets.
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