BJ Flores


Benjamin "BJ" Flores 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.
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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. 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 CuliacΓ‘n, Flores began training at the same gym where Julio CΓ©sar ChΓ‘vez 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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
39LossTrevor BryanTKO4, 2:5811 Aug 2018Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, USFor vacant interim WBA heavyweight title
38Win34–3–1Nick GuivasUD624 Jun 2017Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US
37Win33–3–1Jeremy BatesTKO1, 2:5125 Feb 2017Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US
36Loss32–3–1Tony BellewTKO3, 2:1115 Oct 2016Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UKFor WBC cruiserweight title
35Win32–2–1Roberto SantosUD621 May 2016The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
34Loss31–2–1Beibut ShumenovUD1225 Jul 2015Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USFor interim WBA cruiserweight title
33Win31–1–1Kevin EngelTKO3, 1:198 Oct 2014Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, US
32Win30–1–1Anthony Caputo SmithUD827 Jun 2014Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
31Win29–1–1Adam CollinsKO1, 1:5810 May 2014USC Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, US
30Win28–1–1David McNemarTKO2, 2:146 Oct 2012Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, USRetained WBO NABO cruiserweight title;
Won vacant WBA-NABA cruiserweight title
29Win27–1–1Hugo PinedaTKO6, 2:3428 Jan 2012Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Springfield, Missouri, US
28Win26–1–1Paul JennetteUD1015 Oct 2011O'Reilly Family Event Center, Drury University, Springfield, Missouri, USWon vacant WBA Fedelatin and WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight titles
27Win25–1–1Nicholas IannuzziRTD5, 3:0023 Jul 2011O'Reilly Family Event Center, Drury University, Springfield, Missouri, USWon vacant NABA USA cruiserweight title
26Loss24–1–1Danny GreenUD1217 Nov 2010Challenge Stadium, Mount Claremont, Western Australia, AustraliaFor IBO cruiserweight title
25Win24–0–1Epifanio MendozaTKO4, 1:1915 Aug 2009Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, USRetained WBO NABO cruiserweight title
24Win23–0–1Jose Luis HerreraUD1021 Mar 2009Pensacola Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, USWon vacant WBO NABO cruiserweight title
23Win22–0–1Matt HicksTKO3, 2:5023 Jan 2009Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
22Win21–0–1Darnell WilsonUD128 Feb 2008Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, USWon IBF USBA cruiserweight title
21Win20–0–1Andy SampleTKO2, 2:1813 Oct 2007Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, US
20Win19–0–1Patrick NwamuUD122 Mar 2007Qwest Arena, Boise, Idaho, USWon IBA super cruiserweight title
19Win18–0–1Chris ThomasUD1219 Jan 2007Knox Arena, Olive Branch, Mississippi, US
18Win17–0–1Gary DydellTKO1, 1:3630 Sep 2006Edinburg Stadium, Edinburg, Texas, US
17Win16–0–1Ali SupremeTKO1, 2:2413 May 2006Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, USWon vacant WBF All-Americas cruiserweight title
16Win15–0–1Jermell BarnesUD828 Jan 2006Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
15Win14–0–1James JohnsonTKO5, 3:0011 Nov 2005Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, US
14Win13–0–1Nate ZeikleKO2, 0:3420 Aug 2005Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois, US
13Win12–0–1Frank WalkerUD815 Jul 2005Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, California, US
12Win11–0–1Cliff NellonTKO4 26 Mar 2005American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, US
11Win10–0–1Thomas CameronUD63 Dec 2004Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
10Win9–0–1Cruz QuintanaTKO1, 2:1125 Sep 2004Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, US
9Win8–0–1John TurlingtonTKO4 17 Jul 2004Reliant Center, Houston, Texas, US
8Win7–0–1Brian MaclinKO1 8 May 2004Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Arizona, US
7Win6–0–1Eric FrenchUD427 Mar 2004Alltell Arena, Little Rock, Arkansas, US
6Win5–0–1Chris HairstonTKO1, 3:0024 Jan 2004Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
5Draw4–0–1Semisi BloomfieldPTS422 Nov 2003Reliant Park, Houston, Texas, US
4Win4–0Gabriel TaylorTKO2, 2:593 Oct 2003Reliant Park, Houston, Texas, US
3Win3–0Caesar CarbajalTKO1 26 July 2003Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US
2Win2–0Jim FranklinUD417 May 2003Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
1Win1–0Dallas LaneTKO1, 1:043 May 2003Flamingo Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, US