Jonathan González (flyweight)
Encyclopedia
Jonathan González (born April 24, 1991) is a Puerto Rican
boxer
. He learned the sport from his father, practicing it since the age of four. As an amateur
, González has represented Puerto Rico
at numerous international events, while competing in the flyweight
limit of 51 kg (112 lb). On November 1, 2008, González won his first major tournament, dominating the International Boxing Association
's (AIBA) Youth World Championship in his category. He subsequently competed in the Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos, defeating McWilliams Arroyo
, in the finals to win the senior national title.
, in the quarterfinals by scores of 16:14.
On October 29, 2008, González debuted in the International Boxing Association
's Youth World Championships
. In his first contest, he defeated Kyle Freiberg of Australia
by points, 10:0. On October 30, 2008, González was paired against Welbeth Loberanis of the Philippines
, winning 18:5. In the third date, he competed against Almas Zhakipov of Kazakhstan
, winning his closest decision of the tournament, 14:11. In the semifinals, González defeated Adam López of the United States
, 11:5. With this performance, he advanced to the finals, facing the winner of the other branch, Yuniel Robles of Cuba
. González won the Youth World Championship against Robles, defeating him with scores of 12:5. With this victory, he joined John John Molina
, Aníbal Santiago Acevedo
, Carlos Febres and Daniel Alicea as Puerto Rican gold medalists in this competition. Upon returning to Puerto Rico, González was surprised to encounter a large welcoming ceremony, which included the presence of his stablemate Juan Manuel López
. His next competition was the Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos, Puerto Rico's national championship tournament. The semifinals took place on February 21, 2009, where González defeated Carlos Narváez (8:5) to advance. In the finals, he was matched against Pan American
and Central American
champion, McWilliams Arroyo
. Early in the contest, González was able to use his speed and counterattack to establish control of the fight’s tempo, winning the first round 3:0. This pattern continued in the next stanza, where he was able to score six more points, including three in only eighteen seconds, before his opponent scored his first point. Arroyo attempted to preassure the fight on the third, reducing the difference to 9:4, before González had one final advance, securing the final score of 11:5. Following this competition, he served as an sparring partner for Juan Manuel López, who was preparing for a defense against Gerry Peñalosa
. The pugilist was selected due to his speed.
of Ecuador
by points, 10:9. After advancing to the finals, he was matched against Arroyo, who won the second bracket. On this fight, Arroyo was able to win by points, gathering rounds of 6:3, 12:6 and 17:9. The fight was described as "frenetic" and saw a change in strategy by González, who attempted to pressure the offensive. Immediately afterwards, both pugilists competed in a third contest as part of the first Juan Evangelista Venegas Olympic Cup. This event was organized by the Olympic Committee of Puerto Rico (COPUR), serving as the final qualifier to determine who would enter Puerto Rico’s national team in preparation for the 2009
World Amateur Boxing Championships
. The first two rounds concluded with a close score of 5:4, which favored Arroyo. In the third round, González connected a right hook and scored a knockdown. Arroyo stood up while still affected by the punch and was forced to receive a protective count following another offensive barrage. With the score favoring him by two points 7:5, González scored three more times, while Arroyo was only able to do so once, securing a final score of 10:6. In his next contest, he lost an unexpected decision to Carlos Ortíz. When the Federación de Boxeo Aficionado de Puerto Rico (lit. "Amateur Boxing Federation of Puerto Rico") selected Arroyo to participate in the World Amateur Boxing Championships, González openly expressed disappointment and briefly considered becoming a professional.
In February 2010, González entered the 2010 Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos to defend the flyweight national championship. On his first date, he defeated Kidany Reyes by walkover, advancing to the finals while an eliminatory was held on the other bracket. In the finals, González fought Edwin Rodríguez of Juana Díaz
's Gimnasio Collores, winning the contest by points (12:3) to earn his second consecutive title. As a member of the national pre-selection, he was entered in the XIII José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, debuting with a 10:0 victory over Jovany Camacho of Ecuador. In the semifinals he defeated Julião Neto of Brasil (6:2). González won the event, defeating fellow Puerto Rican Edwin Rodríguez, five points to none. This result guaranteed his inclusion in the national team. Puerto Rico participated in the Campeonato Panamericano Elite in Ecuador, using it as a preparatory for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
. González won his first match against the contestant of the Dominican Republic, but lost a close decision (5:6) in a rematch against Neto at the semifinals. At the Central American and Caribbean Games, he received a bye at the first day of preliminaries. In his debut, González defeated William Alcantara of the Dominican Republic by points (18:8) to secure a medal. In the semifinals, he advanced by defeating (8:3) Dexter Jordan of Guyana
.
In the finals, González fought Ceiber Ávila, opening the first round ahead 6:1. Ávila was frustrated by this disadvantage, connecting a low blow that cost him two points. González continued aggressive to close the third round, finishing with scores of 19:5 to secure the gold medal. His final amateur contest took place in December 2010, where he defeated Adam López (7:1) of the United States as part of a dual.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
boxer
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...
. He learned the sport from his father, practicing it since the age of four. As an amateur
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
, González has represented Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
at numerous international events, while competing in the flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
limit of 51 kg (112 lb). On November 1, 2008, González won his first major tournament, dominating the International Boxing Association
International Boxing Association
The International Boxing Association is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
's (AIBA) Youth World Championship in his category. He subsequently competed in the Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos, defeating McWilliams Arroyo
McWilliams Arroyo
McWilliams Arroyo is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He was introduced to boxing in his childhood, becoming involved at the age of 12. As an amateur, Arroyo represented Puerto Rico in numerous international events....
, in the finals to win the senior national title.
Personal life
González was introduced to boxing by his father, Luis González, who was a pugilist himself, having won Golden Glove awards in 1980 and 1982. When he was four years old, he began training along his progenitor. González's mother died during his youth. After entering competitive circuits, he began dedicating some of his biggest wins to her. González trained in Orlando Piñeiro's gymnasium, often sparring with both amateurs and professionals. In November 2008, Piñeiro emphasized the dedication that the pugilist invested during workouts, claiming that as an amateur, he had been able to knockout professionals adversaries during sparring.AIBA Youth World Championship and national titles
In 2008, González won Puerto Rico's youth national championship. González's first senior competition was the XI José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, which began on May 20, 2008. Where he lost to Pan American medallist, Juan Carlos PayanoJuan Carlos Payano
Juan Carlos Payano is a boxer from the Dominican Republic best known for winning a silver medal at flyweight at the Pan-Am Games twice.-Career:At the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo he lost to Yuriorkis Gamboa and won silver....
, in the quarterfinals by scores of 16:14.
On October 29, 2008, González debuted in the International Boxing Association
International Boxing Association
The International Boxing Association is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
's Youth World Championships
Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships
The Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships, or AIBA Youth World Championships, is a boxing championship event organised by the AIBA for "Youth" competitors who are under the age of 19 years old...
. In his first contest, he defeated Kyle Freiberg of 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...
by points, 10:0. On October 30, 2008, González was paired against Welbeth Loberanis of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, winning 18:5. In the third date, he competed against Almas Zhakipov of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, winning his closest decision of the tournament, 14:11. In the semifinals, González defeated Adam López of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 11:5. With this performance, he advanced to the finals, facing the winner of the other branch, Yuniel Robles of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. González won the Youth World Championship against Robles, defeating him with scores of 12:5. With this victory, he joined John John Molina
John John Molina
Juan Molina , better known as John John Molina in the world of boxing, is a former boxer whose career transcended boxing in Puerto Rico. A multiple time world champion, this boxer was also known as quite a socialite...
, Aníbal Santiago Acevedo
Aníbal Santiago Acevedo
Aníbal Santiago Acevedo is a Puerto Rican boxer, who won a bronze medal in the welterweight division at the 1992 Summer Olympics...
, Carlos Febres and Daniel Alicea as Puerto Rican gold medalists in this competition. Upon returning to Puerto Rico, González was surprised to encounter a large welcoming ceremony, which included the presence of his stablemate Juan Manuel López
Juan Manuel López (boxer)
Juan Manuel "Juanma" López Rivera is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. As an amateur, Lopez represented Puerto Rico at numerous international tournaments including the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games, 2003 Pan American Games and the 2004 Summer Olympics. López's professional career...
. His next competition was the Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos, Puerto Rico's national championship tournament. The semifinals took place on February 21, 2009, where González defeated Carlos Narváez (8:5) to advance. In the finals, he was matched against Pan American
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
and Central American
Central American and Caribbean Games
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial , typically in the middle year between Summer Olympics...
champion, McWilliams Arroyo
McWilliams Arroyo
McWilliams Arroyo is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He was introduced to boxing in his childhood, becoming involved at the age of 12. As an amateur, Arroyo represented Puerto Rico in numerous international events....
. Early in the contest, González was able to use his speed and counterattack to establish control of the fight’s tempo, winning the first round 3:0. This pattern continued in the next stanza, where he was able to score six more points, including three in only eighteen seconds, before his opponent scored his first point. Arroyo attempted to preassure the fight on the third, reducing the difference to 9:4, before González had one final advance, securing the final score of 11:5. Following this competition, he served as an sparring partner for Juan Manuel López, who was preparing for a defense against Gerry Peñalosa
Gerry Peñalosa
Geronimo Peñalosa , more commonly known as Gerry Peñalosa, is a retired Filipino professional boxer....
. The pugilist was selected due to his speed.
Eliminatory tournaments and regional title
González's returned to action at the XII José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, which began on May 19, 2009. Prior to the competition, the local media emphasized the rematch between him and Arroyo, labeling them as "nemesis". González debuted on the tournament's third date, defeating Patricio CaleroPatricio Calero
Patricio Calero is a boxer from Ecuador, who represented his native country in the Men's Light Flyweight category at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece....
of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
by points, 10:9. After advancing to the finals, he was matched against Arroyo, who won the second bracket. On this fight, Arroyo was able to win by points, gathering rounds of 6:3, 12:6 and 17:9. The fight was described as "frenetic" and saw a change in strategy by González, who attempted to pressure the offensive. Immediately afterwards, both pugilists competed in a third contest as part of the first Juan Evangelista Venegas Olympic Cup. This event was organized by the Olympic Committee of Puerto Rico (COPUR), serving as the final qualifier to determine who would enter Puerto Rico’s national team in preparation for the 2009
2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships
The 2009 AIBA World Boxing Championships were held in Milan, Italy from September 1, 2009 to September 12, 2009 in the Mediolanum Forum. It was the biggest World Championships in AIBA history...
World Amateur Boxing Championships
World Amateur Boxing Championships
The World Amateur Boxing Championships is a biennial amateur boxing competition organised by the International Boxing Association , which is the sport governing body. Alongside the Olympic boxing programme, it is the highest level of competition for the sport...
. The first two rounds concluded with a close score of 5:4, which favored Arroyo. In the third round, González connected a right hook and scored a knockdown. Arroyo stood up while still affected by the punch and was forced to receive a protective count following another offensive barrage. With the score favoring him by two points 7:5, González scored three more times, while Arroyo was only able to do so once, securing a final score of 10:6. In his next contest, he lost an unexpected decision to Carlos Ortíz. When the Federación de Boxeo Aficionado de Puerto Rico (lit. "Amateur Boxing Federation of Puerto Rico") selected Arroyo to participate in the World Amateur Boxing Championships, González openly expressed disappointment and briefly considered becoming a professional.
In February 2010, González entered the 2010 Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos to defend the flyweight national championship. On his first date, he defeated Kidany Reyes by walkover, advancing to the finals while an eliminatory was held on the other bracket. In the finals, González fought Edwin Rodríguez of Juana Díaz
Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico
Juana Díaz is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 12 wards and Juana Diaz Pueblo...
's Gimnasio Collores, winning the contest by points (12:3) to earn his second consecutive title. As a member of the national pre-selection, he was entered in the XIII José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, debuting with a 10:0 victory over Jovany Camacho of Ecuador. In the semifinals he defeated Julião Neto of Brasil (6:2). González won the event, defeating fellow Puerto Rican Edwin Rodríguez, five points to none. This result guaranteed his inclusion in the national team. Puerto Rico participated in the Campeonato Panamericano Elite in Ecuador, using it as a preparatory for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010.-Bid:...
. González won his first match against the contestant of the Dominican Republic, but lost a close decision (5:6) in a rematch against Neto at the semifinals. At the Central American and Caribbean Games, he received a bye at the first day of preliminaries. In his debut, González defeated William Alcantara of the Dominican Republic by points (18:8) to secure a medal. In the semifinals, he advanced by defeating (8:3) Dexter Jordan of Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
.
In the finals, González fought Ceiber Ávila, opening the first round ahead 6:1. Ávila was frustrated by this disadvantage, connecting a low blow that cost him two points. González continued aggressive to close the third round, finishing with scores of 19:5 to secure the gold medal. His final amateur contest took place in December 2010, where he defeated Adam López (7:1) of the United States as part of a dual.