BJ Flores
Benjamin "BJ" Flores (born January 29, 1979) is an American professional boxer.
| BJ Flores | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Benjamin Flores |
| Nickname(s) | El Peligroso |
| Weight(s) | Cruiserweight |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Reach | 80 in (203 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | January 29, 1979 San Francisco, California, US |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 39 |
| Wins | 34 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Personal life
Flores is the grandson of Ralph Flores, 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 Caesar Chavez 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
| 39 fights | 34 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 2 |
| By decision | 13 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Loss | 34-4-1 |  |
TKO | 4 (12) | 11 Aug 2018 | |
For vacant interim WBA Heavyweight title |
| 38 | Win | 34-3-1 | |
UD | 6 | 24 Jun 2017 | |
|
| 37 | Win | 33-3-1 | |
KO | 1 (10) | 25 Feb 2017 | |
|
| 36 | Loss | 32-3-1 |  |
KO | 3 (12) | 15 Oct 2016 | |
For WBC Cruiserweight title |
| 35 | Win | 32-2-1 |  |
UD | 6 | 21 May 2016 | |
|
| 34 | Loss | 31-2-1 |  |
UD | 12 | 25 Jul 2015 | |
For interim WBA Cruiserweight title |
| 33 | Win | 31-1-1 | |
TKO | 3 (8) | 8 Oct 2014 | |
|
| 32 | Win | 30-1-1 | |
UD | 8 | 27 Jun 2014 | |
|
| 31 | Win | 29-1-1 | |
KO | 1 (6) | 10 May 2014 | |
|
| 30 | Win | 28-1-1 | |
TKO | 2 (10) | 6 Oct 2012 | |
Retained WBO NABO Cruiserweight title/vacant WBA-NABA Cruiserweight title |
| 29 | Win | 27-1-1 |  |
TKO | 6 (10) | 28 Jan 2012 | |
|
| 28 | Win | 26-1-1 | |
UD | 10 | 15 Oct 2011 | |
Won vacant WBC Continental Americas/vacant WBA Fedelatin Cruiserweight titles |
| 27 | Win | 25-1-1 | |
RTD | 5 (10) | 23 Jul 2011 | |
Won vacant NABA USA/interim WBO NABO Cruiserweight titles |
| 26 | Loss | 24-1-1 | .svg.png){kind=small} |
UD | 12 | 17 Nov 2010 | |
For IBO Cruiserweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24-0-1 | |
TKO | 4 (10) | 15 Aug 2009 | |
Retained WBO NABO Cruiserweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23-0-1 | |
UD | 10 | 21 Mar 2009 | |
Won WBO NABO Cruiserweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22-0-1 | |
TKO | 3 (6) | 23 Jan 2009 | |
|
| 22 | Win | 21-0-1 | |
UD | 12 | 8 Feb 2008 | |
Won IBF USBA Cruiserweight title/World Cruiserweight title eliminator |
| 21 | Win | 20-0-1 | |
TKO | 2 (8) | 13 Oct 2007 | |
|
| 20 | Win | 19-0-1 | |
UD | 12 | 2 Mar 2007 | |
Won IBA Super Cruiserweight title |
| 19 | Win | 18-0-1 | |
UD | 12 | 19 Jan 2007 | |
Won vacant WBF Super/NBA Super Cruiserweight titles |
| 18 | Win | 17-0-1 | |
TKO | 1 (6) | 30 Sep 2006 | |
|
| 17 | Win | 16-0-1 | |
TKO | 1 (12) | 13 May 2006 | |
|
| 16 | Win | 15-0-1 | |
UD | 8 | 28 Jan 2006 | |
|
| 15 | Win | 14-0-1 | |
TKO | 5 (8) | 11 Nov 2005 | |
|
| 14 | Win | 13-0-1 | |
KO | 2 (6) | 20 Aug 2005 | |
|
| 13 | Win | 12-0-1 | |
UD | 8 | 15 Jul 2005 | |
|
| 12 | Win | 11-0-1 | |
TKO | 4 (6) | 26 Mar 2005 | |
|
| 11 | Win | 10-0-1 | |
UD | 6 | 3 Dec 2004 | |
|
| 10 | Win | 9-0-1 | |
TKO | 1 (6) | 25 Sep 2004 | |
|
| 9 | Win | 8-0-1 | |
TKO | 4 (6) | 17 Jul 2004 | |
|
| 8 | Win | 7-0-1 | |
KO | 1 (6) | 8 May 2004 | |
|
| 7 | Win | 6-0-1 | |
UD | 4 | 27 Mar 2004 | |
|
| 6 | Win | 5-0-1 | |
TKO | 1 (4) | 24 Jan 2004 | |
|
| 5 | Draw | 4-0-1 |  |
PTS | 4 | 22 Nov 2003 | |
|
| 4 | Win | 4-0 | |
TKO | 2 (4) | 3 Oct 2003 | |
|
| 3 | Win | 3-0 | |
TKO | 1 (4) | 26 July 2003 | |
|
| 2 | Win | 2-0 | |
UD | 4 | 17 May 2003 | |
|
| 1 | Win | 1-0 | |
TKO | 1 (4) | 3 May 2003 | |
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]
References
- Amy Donaldson, "LDS boxer B.J. Flores hopes his next fight is for a title", Deseret News, May 19, 2013.
- "'Dangerous' Mormon headlines Plaza card". Las Vegas Sun. 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- "Green fighting back after Briggs farce". 16 November 2010.
- "Shumenov vs Flores Results & Highlights - Jul 25, 2015".
- "Tony Bellew Destroys BJ Flores, Drops Him 4 Times For KO in 3". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
- "Trevor Bryan Crushes BJ Flores in Four, Wins WBA Strap". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
- "BJ Flores - Next Fight, Fighter Bio, Stats & News".
- "WSB: Week 6, Group B Derby Day on Super Saturday! ⋆ Boxing News". 17 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- "Undefeated Boxer BJ Flores Signs with Shine Fights for MMA Debut - MMAFrenzy.com".
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
| Preceded by Michael Bennett |
United States Amateur Heavyweight Champion 2001-2002 |
Succeeded by Devin Vargas |