# BJ Flores

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. 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

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

## Professional boxing record

| 39 fights | 34 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 2 |
| By decision | 13 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 39 | Loss | 34–4–1 | Trevor Bryan | TKO | 4 (12), 2:58 | 11 Aug 2018 | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US | For vacant interim WBA heavyweight title |
| 38 | Win | 34–3–1 | Nick Guivas | UD | 6 | 24 Jun 2017 | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US | |
| 37 | Win | 33–3–1 | Jeremy Bates | TKO | 1 (10), 2:51 | 25 Feb 2017 | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, US | |
| 36 | Loss | 32–3–1 | Tony Bellew | TKO | 3 (12), 2:11 | 15 Oct 2016 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK | For WBC cruiserweight title |
| 35 | Win | 32–2–1 | Roberto Santos | UD | 6 | 21 May 2016 | The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, Nevada, US | |
| 34 | Loss | 31–2–1 | Beibut Shumenov | UD | 12 | 25 Jul 2015 | Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, US | For interim WBA cruiserweight title |
| 33 | Win | 31–1–1 | Kevin Engel | TKO | 3 (8), 1:19 | 8 Oct 2014 | Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, US | |
| 32 | Win | 30–1–1 | Anthony Caputo Smith | UD | 8 | 27 Jun 2014 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US | |
| 31 | Win | 29–1–1 | Adam Collins | KO | 1 (6), 1:58 | 10 May 2014 | USC Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, US | |
| 30 | Win | 28–1–1 | David McNemar | TKO | 2 (10), 2:14 | 6 Oct 2012 | Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, US | Retained WBO NABO cruiserweight title; Won vacant WBA-NABA cruiserweight title |
| 29 | Win | 27–1–1 | Hugo Pineda | TKO | 6 (10), 2:34 | 28 Jan 2012 | Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Springfield, Missouri, US | |
| 28 | Win | 26–1–1 | Paul Jennette | UD | 10 | 15 Oct 2011 | O'Reilly Family Event Center, Drury University, Springfield, Missouri, US | Won vacant WBA Fedelatin and WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight titles |
| 27 | Win | 25–1–1 | Nicholas Iannuzzi | RTD | 5 (10), 3:00 | 23 Jul 2011 | O'Reilly Family Event Center, Drury University, Springfield, Missouri, US | Won vacant NABA USA cruiserweight title |
| 26 | Loss | 24–1–1 | Danny Green | UD | 12 | 17 Nov 2010 | Challenge Stadium, Mount Claremont, Western Australia, Australia | For IBO cruiserweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24–0–1 | Epifanio Mendoza | TKO | 4 (10), 1:19 | 15 Aug 2009 | Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, US | Retained WBO NABO cruiserweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–0–1 | Jose Luis Herrera | UD | 10 | 21 Mar 2009 | Pensacola Civic Center, Pensacola, Florida, US | Won vacant WBO NABO cruiserweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–0–1 | Matt Hicks | TKO | 3 (6), 2:50 | 23 Jan 2009 | Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0–1 | Darnell Wilson | UD | 12 | 8 Feb 2008 | Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, US | Won IBF USBA cruiserweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–0–1 | Andy Sample | TKO | 2 (8), 2:18 | 13 Oct 2007 | Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, US | |
| 20 | Win | 19–0–1 | Patrick Nwamu | UD | 12 | 2 Mar 2007 | Qwest Arena, Boise, Idaho, US | Won IBA super cruiserweight title |
| 19 | Win | 18–0–1 | Chris Thomas | UD | 12 | 19 Jan 2007 | Knox Arena, Olive Branch, Mississippi, US | |
| 18 | Win | 17–0–1 | Gary Dydell | TKO | 1 (6), 1:36 | 30 Sep 2006 | Edinburg Stadium, Edinburg, Texas, US | |
| 17 | Win | 16–0–1 | Ali Supreme | TKO | 1 (12), 2:24 | 13 May 2006 | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, US | Won vacant WBF All-Americas cruiserweight title |
| 16 | Win | 15–0–1 | Jermell Barnes | UD | 8 | 28 Jan 2006 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | James Johnson | TKO | 5 (8), 3:00 | 11 Nov 2005 | Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, US | |
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | Nate Zeikle | KO | 2 (6), 0:34 | 20 Aug 2005 | Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois, US | |
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Frank Walker | UD | 8 | 15 Jul 2005 | Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, California, US | |
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Cliff Nellon | TKO | 4 (6) | 26 Mar 2005 | American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, US | |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Thomas Cameron | UD | 6 | 3 Dec 2004 | Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Cruz Quintana | TKO | 1 (6), 2:11 | 25 Sep 2004 | Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, US | |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | John Turlington | TKO | 4 (?) | 17 Jul 2004 | Reliant Center, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | Brian Maclin | KO | 1 (6) | 8 May 2004 | Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Arizona, US | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Eric French | UD | 4 | 27 Mar 2004 | Alltell Arena, Little Rock, Arkansas, US | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Chris Hairston | TKO | 1 (4), 3:00 | 24 Jan 2004 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
| 5 | Draw | 4–0–1 | Semisi Bloomfield | PTS | 4 | 22 Nov 2003 | Reliant Park, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Gabriel Taylor | TKO | 2 (4), 2:59 | 3 Oct 2003 | Reliant Park, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Caesar Carbajal | TKO | 1 (4) | 26 July 2003 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, US | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jim Franklin | UD | 4 | 17 May 2003 | Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Dallas Lane | TKO | 1 (4), 1:04 | 3 May 2003 | Flamingo Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, US | |