BJ Flores

Benjamin "BJ" Flores (born January 29, 1979) is an American former professional boxer and a current boxing trainer. He challenged once for the WBC cruiserweight world title in 2016, and twice for interim world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.

Personal life[]

Flores is the grandson of , the pilot who crashed his small plane in the wilds of Canada's Yukon Territory.

Born into a boxing family, Flores began attending the gym at the age of four years while watching his father Frank Flores train his older brothers and assist Olympic coach Ken Adams train future champions Vince Phillips and Kennedy McKinney. Prior to graduating from Willard High School in Willard, Missouri, Flores was an all state selection in football and track & field. Flores was offered a full football scholarship to BYU.

Flores took two years off from BYU to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mexico Culiacan Mission.^[1] For two years Flores lived in one of the poorest areas of Mexico and helped by assisting in building houses, roofs, and other labor work for those less fortunate.

While in Culiacán, Flores began training at the same gym where Julio César Chávez trained as a child. After watching Flores hand out numerous beatings in sparring sessions, the locals began calling him "Peligroso" meaning "dangerous".^[2]

Amateur career[]

Flores had a stellar amateur career prior to turning professional. In 1997, he won the National Golden Gloves light heavyweight championship. In 2001 and 2002, He won the National Amateur heavyweight championship.

Professional career[]

Flores made his professional debut on May 3, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nevada against Dallas Lane. Flores put three lefts together early in round one to send Lane to the canvas. He beat the count but crumpled quickly from an overhand right that caused the referee to stop the bout.

After winning his next two fights, Flores fought Gabriel Taylor on October 3, 2003, in Houston, Texas. Flores wobbled Taylor several times to the point that the referee stopped the fight in round two. Flores found himself in trouble in his next fight against Semisi Bloomfield after Flores was dropped twice in round two. However, Flores managed to come back and fight him to a draw.

Flores fought Christopher Hairston on January 24, 2004, at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Flores had Hairston on the canvas twice before Hairston refused to continue. Two months later, Flores defeated Eric French by unanimous decision. On May 8, 2004, Flores knocked out Brian Maclin with a left hook.

After winning his next eight fights, Flores fought Ali Supreme on May 13, 2006, at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona. Flores went on the offensive and knocked Supreme to the canvas with a vicious flurry late in the first round. Ali tried to stand but buckled, and the referee stopped the fight.

After defeating Gary Dydell, Flores fought Chris Thomas on January 19, 2007. Flores won by unanimous decision. Flores won his next two fights against Patrick Nwamu and Andy Sample.

Flores fought Darnell Wilson for the United States Boxing Association cruiserweight title on February 8, 2008, in Dover, Delaware. Flores used ring movement to avoid the aggression of Wilson on the way to a unanimous decision victory.

IBO Cruiserweight Championship[]

Flores lost to IBO Cruiserweight Champion Danny Green in November 2010 and by unanimous decision, the first loss of his career.^[3]

Fight against Beibut Shumenov[]

On July 25, 2015 Flores took on Kazakhstan’s Beibut Shumenov in a Premier Boxing Champions fight night at the Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas. The fight was broadcast live on NBCSN. Flores pressed the action throughout, serving as the aggressor much of the night. Shumenov began ramping up his offense more in Round 8, throwing combinations and taking advantage of a tiring Flores. Flores crushed Shumenov with a hard right in Round 12 but it was too late in the fight for him to capitalize further, resulting in unanimous decision win for Shumenov and the capture of the interim WBA World cruiserweight title.^[4]

On 15 October, 2016, BJ Flores challenged Tony Bellew for the WBC cruiserweight title, in Bellew's hometown of Liverpool. Flores started the fight off well, but then got dropped three times in the second round. Finally, in the third round, the defending champion dropped Flores a fourth time for the final count.^[5]

On 11 August, 2018, Flores fought Trevor Bryan for the vacant interim WBA heavyweight title. Bryan dropped Flores six times, and closed the fight in four rounds.^[6]

Career as commentator[]

As Flores continued to climb the ranks in the 200-pound division, Flores began pulling double duty by 2012, working as a ringside analyst, and he is now part of the Premier Boxing Champions on NBC broadcast team.^[7] In 2016, he served as part of NBC's team covering boxing at the Rio Olympics.

Professional boxing record[]

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
39	Loss	34-4-1	Trevor Bryan	TKO	4 (12)	11 Aug 2018	Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona	For vacant interim WBA Heavyweight title
38	Win	34-3-1	Nick Guivas	UD	6	24 Jun 2017	Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona
37	Win	33-3-1	Jeremy Bates	KO	1 (10)	25 Feb 2017	Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona
36	Loss	32-3-1	Tony Bellew	KO	3 (12)	15 Oct 2016	Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside	For WBC Cruiserweight title
35	Win	32-2-1	Roberto Santos	UD	6	21 May 2016	The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, Nevada
34	Loss	31-2-1	Beibut Shumenov	UD	12	25 Jul 2015	Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada	For interim WBA Cruiserweight title
33	Win	31-1-1	Kevin Engel	TKO	3 (8)	8 Oct 2014	Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi
32	Win	30-1-1	Anthony Caputo Smith	UD	8	27 Jun 2014	Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
31	Win	29-1-1	Adam Collins	KO	1 (6)	10 May 2014	USC Galen Center, Los Angeles, California
30	Win	28-1-1	David McNemar	TKO	2 (10)	6 Oct 2012	Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri	Retained WBO NABO Cruiserweight title/vacant WBA-NABA Cruiserweight title
29	Win	27-1-1	Hugo Pineda	TKO	6 (10)	28 Jan 2012	Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri
28	Win	26-1-1	Paul Jennette	UD	10	15 Oct 2011	Drury University, Springfield, Missouri	Won vacant WBC Continental Americas/vacant WBA Fedelatin Cruiserweight titles
27	Win	25-1-1	Nicholas Iannuzzi	RTD	5 (10)	23 Jul 2011	Drury University, Springfield, Missouri	Won vacant NABA USA/interim WBO NABO Cruiserweight titles
26	Loss	24-1-1	Danny Green	UD	12	17 Nov 2010	Challenge Stadium, Mount Claremont, Western Australia	For IBO Cruiserweight title
25	Win	24-0-1	Epifanio Mendoza	TKO	4 (10)	15 Aug 2009	Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi	Retained WBO NABO Cruiserweight title
24	Win	23-0-1	Jose Luis Herrera	UD	10	21 Mar 2009	Pensacola Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida	Won WBO NABO Cruiserweight title
23	Win	22-0-1	Matt Hicks	TKO	3 (6)	23 Jan 2009	Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
22	Win	21-0-1	Darnell Wilson	UD	12	8 Feb 2008	Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware	Won IBF USBA Cruiserweight title/World Cruiserweight title eliminator
21	Win	20-0-1	Andy Sample	TKO	2 (8)	13 Oct 2007	Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri
20	Win	19-0-1	Patrick Nwamu	UD	12	2 Mar 2007	Qwest Arena, Boise, Idaho	Won IBA Super Cruiserweight title
19	Win	18-0-1	Chris Thomas	UD	12	19 Jan 2007	Knox Arena, Olive Branch, Mississippi	Won vacant WBF Super/NBA Super Cruiserweight titles
18	Win	17-0-1	Gary Dydell	TKO	1 (6)	30 Sep 2006	Edinburg Stadium, Edinburg, Texas
17	Win	16-0-1	Ali Supreme	TKO	1 (12)	13 May 2006	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona
16	Win	15-0-1	Jermell Barnes	UD	8	28 Jan 2006	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
15	Win	14-0-1	James Johnson	TKO	5 (8)	11 Nov 2005	Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri
14	Win	13-0-1	Nate Zeikle	KO	2 (6)	20 Aug 2005	Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois
13	Win	12-0-1	Frank Walker	UD	8	15 Jul 2005	Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, California
12	Win	11-0-1	Cliff Nellon	TKO	4 (6)	26 Mar 2005	American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
11	Win	10-0-1	Thomas Cameron	UD	6	3 Dec 2004	Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey
10	Win	9-0-1	Cruz Quintana	TKO	1 (6)	25 Sep 2004	Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri
9	Win	8-0-1	John Turlington	TKO	4 (6)	17 Jul 2004	Reliant Center, Houston, Texas
8	Win	7-0-1	Brian Maclin	KO	1 (6)	8 May 2004	Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Arizona
7	Win	6-0-1	Eric French	UD	4	27 Mar 2004	Alltell Arena, Little Rock, Arkansas
6	Win	5-0-1	Chris Hairston	TKO	1 (4)	24 Jan 2004	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
5	Draw	4-0-1	Semisi Bloomfield	PTS	4	22 Nov 2003	Reliant Park, Houston, Texas
4	Win	4-0	Gabriel Taylor	TKO	2 (4)	3 Oct 2003	Reliant Park, Houston, Texas
3	Win	3-0	Caesar Carbajal	TKO	1 (4)	26 July 2003	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
2	Win	2-0	Jim Franklin	UD	4	17 May 2003	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey
1	Win	1-0	Dallas Lane	TKO	1 (4)	3 May 2003	Flamingo Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada

MMA career[]

Flores has said "I'm beyond frustrated! All the cruiserweights in the world are just ducking me, what a bunch of cowards."^[8] He follows former heavyweight champ James Toney, who recently signed a deal with the UFC, and Ricardo Mayorga into the sport of MMA. The fights could be at light heavyweight (205-pounds) or middleweight (185-pounds), he signed with promotion company Shine Fights.^[9] However, as of April 2021, these fights never came to fruition as Flores has increasingly shifted to a coaching role within boxing, most notably coaching YouTuber Jake Paul.

References[]

External links[]

• Boxing record for BJ Flores from BoxRec
• ESB Exclusive Interview: B.J. Flores, Changing Perceptions by Troy Ondrizek, 31 May 2006, East Side Boxing
• Official website of B.J. Flores
• BJ Flores - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live