By Cliff Rold

Fortunes change.

A pair of title shots at light heavyweight didn’t go Tony Bellew’s way. He lost a nail biter to Nathan Cleverly when both were undefeated. He got blasted out at the hands of Adonis Stevenson.

Light heavyweight just wasn’t his domain. Bellew packed on some pounds and found better luck in the cruiserweight division. Since the Stevenson loss in November 2013, he’s won seven straight. Those wins include a revenge decision over Cleverly, a decision over the tough Mateusz Masternak, and finally a title win in his last outing.

In his finest hour to date, Bellew came off the floor in the first to stop Ilunga Makabu in three, winning a vacant belt in the class. Some extra attention by way of the movie “Creed” didn’t hurt either.

Now Bellew attempts his first title defense against a longtime pro who has spent more time in the announce booth than the ring over the last two years. Can B.J. Flores find something extra on Saturday? 

Let’s go to the report card.

The Ledger

Tony Bellew
Age: 33
Title: WBC cruiserweight (2016-Present, 1st Attempted Defense)
Previous Titles: None
Height: 6’3
Weight: 199 ¼ lbs.
Hails from: Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
Record: 27-2-1, 17 KO, 1 KOBY
Record in Major Title Fights: 1-2, 1 KO, 1 KOBY
Rankings: #2 (Boxing Monthly), #3 (BoxRec), #4 (BoxingScene, Ring), #5 (TBRB), #6 (ESPN)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 2 (Nathan Cleverly L12, SD12; Adonis Stevenson TKO by 6)
 
Vs.
 
B.J. Flores
Age: 37
Title/Previous Titles: None
Height: 6’2
Weight: 198 ¼ lbs.
Hails from: Chandler, Arizona
Record: 32-2-1, 20 KO
Record in Major Title Fights: 0-1 in interim title fights
Rankings: Unrated
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 2 (Danny Green L12; Beibut Shumenov L12)
 
Grades

Pre-Fight: Speed – Bellew B; Flores B-
Pre-Fight: Power – Bellew B; Flores B-
Pre-Fight: Defense – Bellew B; Flores B
Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Bellew B; Flores B-

Inactivity has been the norm for Flores of late. Since October 2014, he’s been in the ring only twice. One of those two was a crack at the interim WBA 200 lb. title, losing a decision to Shumenov. The fight was a reminder in some of the shorts in Flores’ career. He had some moments but he wasn’t offensive enough and, when he was throwing, he was often too predictable.

That doesn’t mean he can’t come up with something here. Flores was once a promising prospect, in large part based on a stellar amateur career. While he missed the 2000 Olympics, Flores won multiple national titles and grew up around the game. It’s just never quite translated as a professional.

The assets he brings on the road with him here are a sturdy chin, a long jab, and a decent right hand. Will he also bring the baggage that had sometimes held him back? Flores appears sometimes to outthink himself in the ring. He sits on counters when he could be on the attack; he can walk forward without moving his hands. He’s got decent power, and finishes well when he has a man in trouble, but too often there just isn’t enough offense when it counts.

Bellew is the more fluid, and slightly quicker, man but neither is of the lightning speed variety. He isn’t a particularly high output fighter but he counters well and has a knack for keeping fights at the pace he wants them. His defense isn’t superb but he slips and rolls with shots well.

Of the two, Bellew has had his chin dented more, but he’s also been in with more consistent opposition. He showed against Makabu that his left hook can be a burden for foes and he’s had five knockouts since moving up in weight.

If there is a question about Bellew, it is whether he might be carrying too much weight. He often looks heavy, and a little fleshy, fighting some twenty-plus pounds up from where he started. So far, it hasn’t affected his outcomes.    

The Pick

This is, on paper, the biggest fight of the week but that says a lot about a slow month. Flores hasn’t really done much to put himself in contention recently and this has the feel of a last chance moment for the veteran. If his flashing of the crowd at the weigh-in winds up being the most memorable thing about this encounter, that would be too bad. The makings are there for an interesting fight but it’s hard to imagine a 37-year old Flores finding the youth he needs for the road upset. The Flores chin remains reliable and the pick is Bellew by decision.

Report Card and Staff Picks 2016: 35-12

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com