The curious case of Damon 'Pistol' Flores: Too good to be beaten, too young for the Olympics

CERES, California – Damon “Pistol” Flores might be 15 years old, but he might be the best young boxing talent in the whole country.

Flores won his 18th national tournament in Lubbock, Texas, earlier this month.

Now Flores is in a unique spot. With a dazzling style, Flores gets knockdowns in big gloves and with headgear. All the major fighters across the country know his name, yet what does a young fighter do when they are too young to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?

“At the start of the year, he won a national tournament at 119lbs, now he just ended the year winning at 138lbs,” Damian Flores, his father and trainer, said. “The goal is to build some momentum moving forward.”

Joseph Peres is Flores’ godfather and co-trainer. BoxingScene this year reported that Peres is one of the standout coaches in the nation, building top fighters in the amateurs. 

“He is sparring with grown professionals and holding his own,” Peres said of Flores. “I’d favor him against some pros right now, but I know he needs time to mature since boxing isn’t just about ability. Things like timing, maturity, and life decisions matter just as much.

“When you look at all the top fighters in the tournament, not to be arrogant, but they all know who Pistol is. The thing now is, where do you go?”

That is the question. Flores is far too young to turn professional, and yet, the focus as of now in the amateur ranks is on the elite team, especially given that the United States will host the next Olympics in 2028. Flores still competes in the junior bracket and isn’t seen by as many eyes yet.

“We are waiting are next move,” Flores said of his son. “We have to figure out what is best for ‘Pistol’, but as a team, we want him to grow and gain experience before we consider him becoming a pro. The pros are a hard game, and you need the right situation.”

Flores hopes he can attend a USA Boxing training camp later this year, but the focus now is not being stagnant. In 2025, Flores was undefeated and fought in multiple divisions. Things happen fast in boxing, and the team around Flores believes that they could have a contender at the professional level one day.

“Right now, the goal is to get his name out there, without saying too much,” Peres said. “‘Pistol’ deserves the credit and recognition, but he doesn’t need the burden that often follows a great young amateur. We are trying to put him in a position to succeed without him feeling like he has to live up to a certain standard at a young age.”