BJ Flores explained

BJ Flores
Realname:Benjamin Flores
Nickname:El Peligroso
Weight:Cruiserweight

Heavyweight

Height:6feet
Reach:800NaN0
Birth Date:29 January 1979
Birth Place:San Francisco, California, U.S.
Style:Orthodox
Total:39
Wins:34
Ko:21
Losses:4
Draws:1
No Contests:0

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 who is of Mexican descent, 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 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]

On March 16, 2023, in Medellin, Colombia while at a traffic light, Flores was shot in the leg during an attempted robbery.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8] In 2016, he served as part of NBC's team covering boxing at the Rio Olympics.

Career as boxing trainer

As of 2021, Flores has worked as a full-time boxing trainer for professional boxer and social media personality Jake Paul.[9]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
39Loss34–4–1Trevor BryanTKO4 (12), 11 Aug 2018
38Win34–3–1Nick GuivasUD624 Jun 2017
37Win33–3–1Jeremy BatesTKO1 (10), 25 Feb 2017
36Loss32–3–1Tony BellewTKO3 (12), 15 Oct 2016
35Win32–2–1Roberto SantosUD621 May 2016
34Loss31–2–1Beibut ShumenovUD1225 Jul 2015
33Win31–1–1Kevin EngelTKO3 (8), 8 Oct 2014
32Win30–1–1Anthony Caputo SmithUD827 Jun 2014
31Win29–1–1Adam CollinsKO1 (6), 10 May 2014
30Win28–1–1David McNemarTKO2 (10), 6 Oct 2012
29Win27–1–1Hugo PinedaTKO6 (10), 28 Jan 2012
28Win26–1–1Paul JennetteUD1015 Oct 2011
27Win25–1–1Nicholas IannuzziRTD5 (10), 23 Jul 2011
26Loss24–1–1Danny GreenUD1217 Nov 2010
25Win24–0–1Epifanio MendozaTKO4 (10), 15 Aug 2009
24Win23–0–1Jose Luis HerreraUD1021 Mar 2009
23Win22–0–1Matt HicksTKO3 (6), 23 Jan 2009
22Win21–0–1Darnell WilsonUD128 Feb 2008
21Win20–0–1Andy SampleTKO2 (8), 13 Oct 2007
20Win19–0–1Patrick NwamuUD122 Mar 2007
19Win18–0–1Chris ThomasUD1219 Jan 2007
18Win17–0–1Gary DydellTKO1 (6), 30 Sep 2006
17Win16–0–1Ali SupremeTKO1 (12), 13 May 2006
16Win15–0–1Jermell BarnesUD828 Jan 2006
15Win14–0–1James JohnsonTKO5 (8), 11 Nov 2005
14Win13–0–1Nate ZeikleKO2 (6), 20 Aug 2005
13Win12–0–1Frank WalkerUD815 Jul 2005
12Win11–0–1Cliff NellonTKO4 (6)26 Mar 2005
11Win10–0–1Thomas CameronUD63 Dec 2004
10Win9–0–1Cruz QuintanaTKO1 (6), 25 Sep 2004
9Win8–0–1John TurlingtonTKO4 (?)17 Jul 2004
8Win7–0–1Brian MaclinKO1 (6)8 May 2004
7Win6–0–1Eric FrenchUD427 Mar 2004
6Win5–0–1Chris HairstonTKO1 (4), 24 Jan 2004
5Draw4–0–1Semisi BloomfieldPTS422 Nov 2003
4Win4–0Gabriel TaylorTKO2 (4), 3 Oct 2003
3Win3–0Caesar CarbajalTKO1 (4)26 July 2003
2Win2–0Jim FranklinUD417 May 2003
1Win1–0Dallas LaneTKO1 (4), 3 May 2003

External links

Notes and References

  1. Amy Donaldson, "LDS boxer B.J. Flores hopes his next fight is for a title", Deseret News, May 19, 2013.
  2. Web site: 'Dangerous' Mormon headlines Plaza card . 2009-01-27 . 2009-01-22 . Las Vegas Sun.
  3. Web site: Jake Paul's coach, former boxer BJ Flores, shot during robbery attempt in Colombia . . 17 March 2023 .
  4. Web site: Green fighting back after Briggs farce. . 16 November 2010.
  5. Web site: Shumenov vs Flores Results & Highlights - Jul 25, 2015.
  6. Web site: 15 October 2016. Tony Bellew Destroys BJ Flores, Drops Him 4 Times For KO in 3. 2020-07-03. BoxingScene.com. en-us.
  7. Web site: 12 August 2018. Trevor Bryan Crushes BJ Flores in Four, Wins WBA Strap. 2020-07-03. BoxingScene.com. en-us.
  8. Web site: BJ Flores - Next Fight, Fighter Bio, Stats & News.
  9. Web site: Who Are the Boxing Coach and Sparring Partners of Jake Paul?- BJ Flores, J Leon Love and More. 19 December 2021 .