BJ Flores

Benjamin "BJ" Flores (born January 29, 1979) is an American professional boxer.

BJ Flores
Statistics
Real nameBenjamin Flores
Nickname(s)El Peligroso
Weight(s)Cruiserweight
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Reach80 in (203 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1979-01-29) January 29, 1979
San Francisco, California, US
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights39
Wins34
Wins by KO21
Losses4
Draws1
No contests0

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

Professional record summary
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 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]

References

Preceded by
Michael Bennett
United States Amateur Heavyweight Champion
2001-2002
Succeeded by
Devin Vargas
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