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World ranked cruiserweight professional boxer B. J. Flores has been named to the NBC broadcasting team for the 2012 Olympic Boxing Competition.
Said Flores, “Representing NBC and being part of the Olympic broadcast is truly a great honor and a blessing. I am very much looking forward to seeing an improved USA Olympic Boxing Team with many experienced veterans leading the charge. Coach Abdullah has done a great job with this 2012 team and I predict that more medals will be won than in 2004 and 2008 combined.”
Previously Flores worked on “ESPN Friday Night Fights” for three years prior to being retained by NBC Sports Network to work alongside trainer Freddie Roach and broadcaster Kenny Rice for the networks “Fight Night” series.
Sporting a professional record of 27-1-1 with seventeen knockouts, Flores is world ranked by all four boxing sanctioning bodies, #2 by the WBO, #3 by the WBA, #4 by the WBC and #11 by the IBF.
Born in San Francisco, raised in Missouri and currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, Flores developed a passion for boxing as a youngster. “I have always been very passionate about boxing. When I was in the 3rd grade I used to run home from school and watch tapes of my favorite fighters so I could practice their moves during my sparring sessions that night.”
Flores also had a storied amateur career compiling a record of 111-9 while winning the 1997 National Golden Gloves along with the 2001 and 2002 United States Amateur Heavyweight Championships.
Continued Flores about his early years “We grew up without a lot of material things but it taught me to appreciate and be tough. I loved sports and played as many as I could. I had my first fight when I was nine years old and learned so much in my 120 amateur fights. I got to fight National Champions all over the world representing Team USA. It was a great experience.
“At a very young age I was exposed to the US Army team and was inspired to box by future Olympians Kennedy McKinney and Vince Phillips. They started on the US Army team and were trained by Kenny Adams in Fort Hood, Texas, where my father was based. Kenny allowed my brother and I to ride on the team bus to their fights and that experience of seeing their discipline towards boxing left a big impression on me.”
In regards to his future in the ring, Flores said, “I am looking forward to fighting on September 8th at the historic Shrine Mosque in Springfield, Missouri. We are planning a great card and I will be defending my North American titles and staying busy in another very important fight to earn a shot at one of the world champions.
“I have a lot of work to do but I train hard every day and take my job very seriously. I’m looking forward to giving my fans a very entertaining and exciting fight on September 8th”
