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Jesús González (boxer)

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Jesus Gonzales
Born
Jesus Ernesto GonzalesJr

(1984-10-03) October 3, 1984 (age 40)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesEl Martillo
Statistics
Weight(s)Super Middleweight
Middleweight
Light Middleweight
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach73 in (185 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins27
Wins by KO14
Losses2
Draws0
No contests0

Jesus Ernesto Gonzales Jr (born October 3, 1984) is a Mexican-American former professional boxer. Gonzales was the NABF and IBF North American Super Middleweight Champion.[1] Gonzales was considered by boxing critics to be one of the top amateur medal contenders for the United States in the 2004 Summer Olympics.[2]

Amateur career

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Gonzales' decorated amateur career includes wins over 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and later WBA World Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward; WBO Light Middleweight Champion Alfredo Angulo; IBA Intercontinental Light Middleweight champion Sechew Powell; and an astonishing four wins over former WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto.

In addition, Gonzales won the National Boxing Championship in the middleweight division in 2002, including the Outstanding Boxer Award.

Professional career

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Widely considered to be America's top medal contender for the 2004 Olympic Games, Gonzales stunned fans on June 12, 2003 when he decided to bypass the games and turn pro at the age of 18. Signing to Top Rank under promoter Bob Arum for $30,000, with another $30,000 from manager Cameron Dunkin. Gonzales was touted as the next Oscar De La Hoya. Over the next two years Gonzales fought 17 fights including two of the fastest knockouts in the history of boxing: 16 seconds over Josh Peters and a 17 seconds over Bobby Green while climbing to a 17-0 record.

Against the advice of his trainer/father on September 17, 2005 Gonzales became one of the youngest fighters ever (age 20) to fight for the Vacant IBC Middleweight Title. Gonzales suffered an eighth round knockout by former IBC Middleweight Champion José Luis Zertuche.

After this crucial fight, Top Rank's Peter McKinn climbed into the ring and had a short conversation with Jesus' trainer/father Ernie Gonzales Sr. That conversation ended with Ernie Gonzales Sr. delivering a left hook to the side of McKinn's face.

Jesus was unable to get a fight for nearly a year but had vowed to avenge his loss. He finally got the opportunity August 18, 2005 against Fernando Vela. Six victories later, Jesús found himself fighting for the Interim WBC Continental Americas Light Middleweight title on May 1, 2008. With a 12 round unanimous decision, Jesus became the WBC Continental Americas Light Middleweight Champion at the age of 22 with a record of 24-1.

Several weeks later, Jesus signed his second contract with Star Boxing in New York. With Star holding the rights to Jesus over his head and refusing to pay him, Jesus was forced into a two-year hiatus. For the second time in his career, his climb to the top was shattered over a bad contract and Jesus was forced to resign his WBC Continental Americas Light Middleweight title because of non-defense. Crushed and struggling to support his son, Jesús was forced to take a security job at a local high school to make ends meet.

Gonzales was discovered by Fan Base promotions while they were on a trip to Arizona to train one of their prized Canadian fighters. He was at a local gym tearing up the speed bag and Fan Base immediately noticed his outstanding talent. Fan Base put up the money and legal team to release Gonzales from his Star contract and immediately got him a fight in Canada against top Canadian contender Jason Naugler. After TKO’ing Naugler in the second round, Jesús was granted an opportunity to fight for the IBF N. American Super Middleweight Title in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona.

In March 2011, Jesus defeated Dhafir Smith in a unanimous decision to become the IBF North American Super Middleweight Champion. He was only 26 years old then and vowed not to stop until he achieved a World Title.

NABF Super Middleweight Championship

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Jesus became the new NABF Super Middleweight Champion, by beating tough veteran Francisco Sierra on July 8, 2011 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. This bout was televised on ESPN2. In the fight there were two knockdowns, one by each fighter. Gonzales was named the winner by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.[3]

IBF Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Championship

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In 2012, Adonis Stevenson brutally knocked out González in the first round with his signature straight left hand. The knock out was a candidate for KO of the year by Ring Magazine. Prior to the fight, González famously had exposed Stevenson's criminal past. This would turn out to be González last ever fight.

Professional record

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27 Wins (14 knockouts), 2 Losses, 0 Draw
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Venue and Location Notes
Loss 27-2 CanadaAdonis Stevenson KO 1 (12), (1:39) February 18, 2012 CanadaBell Centre, Canada For vacant IBF Inter-Continental
Win 27-1 MexicoFrancisco Sierra UD 12 (12) July 8, 2011 ArizonaUS Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona Won NABF super middleweight title
Win 26-1 United StatesDhafir Smith UD 12 (12) March 15, 2011 ArizonaCelebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona Won IBF North American super middleweight title
Win 25-1 CanadaJason Naugler TKO 2 (8), (3:00) November 12, 2010 CanadaCommonwealth Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Win 24-1 United StatesDurrell Richardson UD 12 (12) May 1, 2008 TexasArena Theatre, Houston, Texas Won WBC interim Continental Americas light middleweight title
Win 23-1 United StatesJoshua Smith TKO 2 (10), (2:16) December 20, 2007 TexasConvention Center, Pasadena, Texas
Win 22-1 United StatesAnthony Greeley KO 1 (10), (2:34) June 9, 2007 TexasConvention Center, Pasadena, Texas
Win 21-1 VenezuelaMarcos Primera UD 10 (10) January 20, 2007 ArizonaCelebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 20-1 United StatesDarnell Boone UD 8 (8) December 15, 2006 TexasGrand Plaza Hotel, Houston, Texas
Win 19-1 MexicoRamon Espinoza TKO 3 (8), (2:32) September 22, 2006 TexasConvention Center, Pasadena, Texas
Win 18-1 MexicoFernando Vela UD 6 (6) August 18, 2006 NevadaLas Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss 17-1-0 MexicoJosé Luis Zertuche TKO 8 (2), (2:02) September 17, 2005 ArizonaAmerica West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona For vacant IBC middleweight title
Win 17-0-0 United StatesDumont Welliver UD 8 (8) May 28, 2005 CaliforniaStaples Center, Los Angeles
Win 16-0-0 United StatesKendall Gould TKO 4 (10), (0:10) May 6, 2005 TexasFort McDowell Casino, Fountain Hills, Arizona
Win 15-0-0 United StatesChance Leggett UD 8 (8) April 8, 2005 TexasFort McDowell Casino, Fountain Hills, Arizona
Win 14-0-0 Dominican RepublicAlberto Mercedes UD 8 (8) February 18, 2005 ArizonaFort McDowell Casino, Fountain Hills, Arizona
Win 13-0-0 United StatesAbdias Castillo TKO 2 (8), (1:36) January 7, 2005 ArizonaVeteran's Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 12-0-0 United StatesJorge Garcia TKO 4 (8), (2:05) December 3, 2004 TexasEntertainment Center, Laredo, Texas
Win 11-0-0 United StatesShay Mobley UD 6 (6) August 27, 2004 ArizonaDodge Theater, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 10-0-0 United StatesChris Grays DQ 4 (6), (1:36) June 18, 2004 ArizonaDodge Theater, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 9-0-0 MexicoFrancisco Mendez UD 6 (6) May 14, 2004 ArizonaDodge Theater, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 8-0-0 United StatesChris Grays UD 6 (6) March 26, 2004 ArizonaDodge Theater, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 7-0-0 NigeriaVincent Moses TKO 4 (4), (1:39) January 31, 2004 ArizonaDodge Theater, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 6-0-0 United StatesNathan Martin TKO 4 (4), (2:09) December 5, 2003 ArizonaDodge Theater, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 5-0-0 United StatesCraig Oxley TKO 1 (4), (2:51) October 31, 2003 ArizonaPark ‘N Swap, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 4-0-0 United StatesRoy Smith TKO 1 (4), (2:35) October 17, 2003 ArizonaCelebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona
Win 3-0-0 United StatesBobby Green TKO 1 (4), (0:17) October 10, 2003 ArizonaDesert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona
Win 2-0-0 United StatesJoshua Peters KO 1 (4), (0:26) October 4, 2003 CaliforniaStaples Center, Los Angeles
Win 1-0-0 United StatesRawley Wilson KO 1 (4), (0:59) August 25, 2003 ArizonaCelebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona

References

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