B. J. Flores
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Flores is a Mexican-American professional boxer
and mixed martial artist.
, the pilot who crashed his small plane in the wilds of Canada's Yukon Territory in February 1963 and survived, along with his passenger Helen Klaben, for 49 days, subsisting mostly on melted snow.
Born into a boxing family, Flores began attending the gym at four years old 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
.
While attending BYU, Flores became a Mormon missionary
in Mexico. 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".
. In 2001 and 2002, He won the National Amateur heavyweight championship
.
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 comeback 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.
Cruiserweight Champion Danny Green
in November 2010 and by unanimous decision, the first loss of his career.
|align="center" colspan=8|24 Wins (15 knockouts), 1 Losses, 1 Draw
|- style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%;"
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Res.
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rd., Time
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
|-align=center
|Loss || 24-1-1 ||align=left|
Danny Green
|UD || 12 || November 17, 2010 ||align=left| Challenge Stadium, Perth
, Western Australia
, Australia
|align=left|For the IBO Cruiserweight title
|-align=center
, who recently signed a deal with the UFC, and Ricardo Mayorga
into the sport of MMA
. The fights could be at light heayweight (205-pounds) or middleweight (185-pounds), he signed with promotion company Shine Fights.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and mixed martial artist.
Personal life
Flores is the grandson of Ralph FloresRalph Flores
Ralph V. Flores was a Mexican-born pilot from California who crashed his private plane in the wilds of Canada's Yukon Territory in February 1963 while on a trip from Fairbanks, Alaska to California. He survived, along with his passenger Helen Klaben, for 49 days, subsisting mostly on melted snow...
, the pilot who crashed his small plane in the wilds of Canada's Yukon Territory in February 1963 and survived, along with his passenger Helen Klaben, for 49 days, subsisting mostly on melted snow.
Born into a boxing family, Flores began attending the gym at four years old while watching his father Frank Flores train his older brothers and assist Olympic coach Ken Adams train future champions Vince Phillips
Vince Phillips
Vincent Edwards Phillips Sr. is an American boxer best known for upsetting and beating then undefeated Kostya Tszyu for the junior welterweight title.- Early life :...
and Kennedy McKinney
Kennedy McKinney
Kennedy McKinney is a former professional boxer, who won the bantamweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics...
. Prior to graduating from Willard High School
Willard High School (Missouri)
Willard High School is a high school located in Willard, Missouri, United States. The school is in the Willard R-2 School District.Willard High School has about 1,300 students enrolled, .-Notable Alumni:...
in Willard, Missouri
Willard, Missouri
Willard is a city in Greene County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,288 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.Willard's main east-west road, U.S...
, Flores was an all state selection in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and track & field. Flores was offered a full football scholarship to BYU
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
While attending BYU, Flores became a Mormon missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in Mexico. 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
Culiacán
Culiacán is a city in northwestern Mexico, the largest city in the state of Sinaloa as well as its capital and capital of the municipality of Culiacán. With 675,773 inhabitants in the city , and 858,638 in the municipality, it is the largest city in the state of Sinaloa...
, 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".
Amateur career
Flores had a stellar amateur career prior to turning professional. In 1997, he won the National Golden Gloves light heavyweight championshipNational Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight Champions
Below is a list of National Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight Champions along with the state or region which they represented. At its inception, the Light Heavyweight weight limit was 175 pounds, but in 1972 the maximum limit was increased to 178 pounds ....
. In 2001 and 2002, He won the National Amateur heavyweight championship
National Amateur Heavyweight Champions
Below is a list of National Amateur Boxing Heavyweight Champions, also known as US Amateur Champions, along with the state or region which they represented...
.
Professional career
Flores made his professional debut on May 3, 2003, in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
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
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. 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 comeback and fight him to a draw.
Flores fought Christopher Hairston on January 24, 2004, at the Boardwalk Hall
Boardwalk Hall
Boardwalk Hall, formally known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, is an arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States...
in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. 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
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 14,870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, located on the grounds of the Arizona State Fair...
in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. 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
Darnell Wilson
Darnell Wilson is a US-American boxer. Graduated from Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland.-Amateur career:...
for the United States Boxing Association cruiserweight title on February 8, 2008, in Dover, Delaware
Dover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the 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 IBOInternational Boxing Organization
The International Boxing Organization is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
Cruiserweight Champion Danny Green
Danny Green
Daniel "Danny" Green is an Australian professional boxer and the former IBO cruiserweight champion.- Amateur boxing career and the Olympics :...
in November 2010 and by unanimous decision, the first loss of his career.
Professional record
|- style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%;"|align="center" colspan=8|24 Wins (15 knockouts), 1 Losses, 1 Draw
|- style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:95%;"
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Res.
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rd., Time
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
|align=center style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
|-align=center
|Loss || 24-1-1 ||align=left|
Danny GreenDanny Green
Daniel "Danny" Green is an Australian professional boxer and the former IBO cruiserweight champion.- Amateur boxing career and the Olympics :...
|UD || 12 || November 17, 2010 ||align=left|
Challenge Stadium, PerthChallenge Stadium
Challenge Stadium is a sports complex in the suburb of Mount Claremont, west of Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It was opened in 1986 and is home to the Western Australian Institute of Sport. The main indoor arena holds 4,500 people...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
|align=left|For the IBO Cruiserweight title
|-align=center
MMA career
Flores has said "I'm beyond frustrated! All the cruiserweights in the world are just ducking me, what a bunch of cowards." He follows former heavyweight champ James ToneyJames Toney
James Nathanial Toney is an American professional boxer who has held world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight divisions. Toney currently fights in the heavyweight division in boxing and also now competes in mixed martial arts.-Boxing career:Toney's amateur boxing...
, who recently signed a deal with the UFC, and Ricardo Mayorga
Ricardo Mayorga
Ricardo Mayorga , is a Nicaraguan professional boxer. He is the former WBA/WBC Welterweight champion and the former WBC light middleweight champion. He holds a record of 29-8 with 23 knockouts and 1 draw 1 no contest. He was featured for the first time on the cover of Ring Magazine on the December...
into the sport of MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. The fights could be at light heayweight (205-pounds) or middleweight (185-pounds), he signed with promotion company Shine Fights.
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