Benjamin "BJ" Flores (born January 29, 1979) is an American boxing trainer and former professional boxer. 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.Amy Donaldson, "LDS boxer B.J. Flores hopes his next fight is for a title", Deseret News, May 19, 2013. 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".

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Career as boxing trainer From 2021 to 2023, Flores worked as a full-time boxing trainer for professional boxer and social media personality Jake Paul. Flores has also worked for other social media personalities such as Josh Brueckner, Tristan Hamm, and Wade Plemons.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes39Loss Trevor BryanTKO4 (12), 11 Aug 201838Win34–3–1 Nick GuivasUD624 Jun 201737Win33–3–1 Jeremy BatesTKO1 (10), 25 Feb 201736Loss32–3–1 Tony BellewTKO3 (12), 15 Oct 201635Win32–2–1 Roberto SantosUD621 May 201634Loss31–2–1 Beibut ShumenovUD1225 Jul 201533Win31–1–1Kevin EngelTKO3 (8), 8 Oct 201432Win30–1–1Anthony Caputo SmithUD827 Jun 201431Win29–1–1Adam CollinsKO1 (6), 10 May 201430Win28–1–1David McNemarTKO2 (10), 6 Oct 201229Win27–1–1 Hugo PinedaTKO6 (10), 28 Jan 201228Win26–1–1 Paul JennetteUD1015 Oct 201127Win25–1–1 Nicholas IannuzziRTD5 (10), 23 Jul 201126Loss24–1–1 Danny GreenUD1217 Nov 201025Win24–0–1 Epifanio MendozaTKO4 (10), 15 Aug 200924Win23–0–1 Jose Luis HerreraUD1021 Mar 200923Win22–0–1 Matt HicksTKO3 (6), 23 Jan 200922Win21–0–1 Darnell WilsonUD128 Feb 200821Win20–0–1 Andy SampleTKO2 (8), 13 Oct 200720Win19–0–1 Patrick NwamuUD122 Mar 200719Win18–0–1 Chris ThomasUD1219 Jan 200718Win17–0–1 Gary DydellTKO1 (6), 30 Sep 200617Win16–0–1 Ali SupremeTKO1 (12), 13 May 200616Win15–0–1 Jermell BarnesUD828 Jan 200615Win14–0–1 James JohnsonTKO5 (8), 11 Nov 200514Win13–0–1 Nate ZeikleKO2 (6), 20 Aug 200513Win12–0–1 Frank WalkerUD815 Jul 200512Win11–0–1 Cliff NellonTKO4 (6)26 Mar 200511Win10–0–1 Thomas CameronUD63 Dec 200410Win9–0–1 Cruz QuintanaTKO1 (6), 25 Sep 20049Win8–0–1 John TurlingtonTKO4 (?)17 Jul 20048Win7–0–1 Brian MaclinKO1 (6)8 May 20047Win6–0–1 Eric FrenchUD427 Mar 20046Win5–0–1 Chris HairstonTKO1 (4), 24 Jan 20045Draw4–0–1 Semisi BloomfieldPTS422 Nov 20034Win4–0 Gabriel TaylorTKO2 (4), 3 Oct 20033Win3–0 Caesar CarbajalTKO1 (4)26 July 20032Win2–0 Jim FranklinUD417 May 20031Win1–0Dallas LaneTKO1 (4), 3 May 2003

References

External links

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