BJ Flores says he’s got July 12 fight with Otto Wallin on Showtime

Though Showtime haven’t officially announced the card just yet, BJ Flores’ team put out a press release announcing that Flores has accepted a ShoBox main event on July 12, where he’ll face Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin.

Wallin (20-0, 13 KO) made his Showtime debut on April 13 on the Shields-Hammer undercard, but his fight with Nick Kisner was cut short after the first round due to a cut on Kisner caused by an accidental headbutt, ending the bout in a no-contest.

So the 28-year-old from Sundsvall may get a second chance to make a first impression on Showtime airwaves, as the 6’5½” southpaw faces the veteran Flores, who at 40 is taking one more swing.

Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

Flores (34-4-1, 21 KO) was a solid fighter at cruiserweight for years, but never quite broke through with that big win. He went to Australia to fight Danny Green in 2010, losing a wide decision, then put together a string of seven wins before a 2015 decision loss to Beibut Shumenov. He was stopped in three by Tony Bellew in 2016, and a move up to heavyweight saw him stopped in four by Trevor Bryan last August in Phoenix.

Flores says he was pretty much ready to hang up the gloves, saying Bryan was just the better man in their fight, but he got a call to fight Wallin on Showtime and couldn’t turn it down.

“This will be my first time fighting on Showtime and I plan on putting on a great show,” Flores says. “Wallin is a good fighter. 6’6” and young, hungry, and undefeated. He isn’t 20-0 for no reason. I am greatly looking forward to this opportunity.“

He’ll also be training with coach Ibn Carson, who works with Kubrat Pulev, and working with strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia.

“Ibn Cason and Angel Heredia will have me at the top of my game,” he says. “Being in camp with world class heavyweight Kubrat Pulev will also be an amazing experience. He is very good and there is a lot to learn from a guy like Kubrat. All these new additions to my team will help me surprise a lot of people on July 12th.”

The fight will reportedly take place in Seattle.