After two battles in the ring in 2020, Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (29-7-1, 21KO's) will rise to the ring next Saturday, February 20, at the MGM Grand's Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Velez will face rising prospect Gabe Flores Jr. (19-0, 6KO's) over the ten round distance.

"Once again I have the opportunity to climb into the ring against another great opponent, and do it again on a platform as important as ESPN," said Velez.

“From my fights with (Jaime) Arboleda and (Oscar) Valdez, I learned that I must have more patience. With Arboleda I was dominating the early rounds, then I entered an unnecessary war, which I know the public enjoyed, but I got out of the fight plan. With Valdez I was concered and wanted to impose my strength. As you all know, it was not the right decision. Now I'm coming in more calmly and I will take advantage of every second."

On February 8, 2020, Velez fell by split decision in an exciting and controversial match against Arboleda.

"La Maravilla" punished him and dropped Arboleda - putting him on the verge of a knockout in the twelfth and final round. After this setback, on July 21, the Puerto Rican boxer returned to action to collide with former world champion Oscar Valdez. Velez was very aggressive, but lost the fight by technical knockout in the tenth round.

In this new chapter, Velez will have in Flores a young fighter with a lot of promise. 

"I know Flores is one of Top Rank's big hopes, since they signed him when he was only 16 years old," said the 32-year-old veteran.

“I will have an opponent who moves his legs very well, he has a lot of hand speed and is very talented. It is going to be a tough fight, but I'm sure it will be very entertaining. Maybe not as bumpy as my last two fights, because I have to be smarter and watch his speed, and not unconsciously enter the fire like I always do, but it will be a war. He is young (20 years old), but I have the experience. I feel much more mature. I have worked for the victory and I am going to take the victory. I'm going to pull off a surprise on February 20 in Las Vegas. It's going to be another classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico battle."