|
 Julio Gonzalez: A Mexican in Germany
By David A. Avila (January 15, 2004)
 Send this page to friend Give us your feedback
Tall and lean, Julio Gonzalez looks like one of the characters from the Love and Rockets comic book by Oxnard, California's Hernandez brothers.
For many who haven't heard, Gonzalez (35-1) captured the WBO light heavyweight title last October from the formerly undefeated Dariusz Michalczewski and now he'll defend it against another German-based fighter on Saturday. The fight will not be televised in the U.S.
It was a shocking surprise to most of the world that the Mexican fighter was victorious, especially in Germany.
But in Southern California and in Pensacola, Florida, fight fans and a fighter named Roy Jones Jr. suspected Gonzalez had the tools and the tenacity to topple the Polish fighter who had reigned as the 175-pound champion for nine years including 23 title defenses.
For eight years while Jones held three other light heavyweight crowns, many Europeans and some Americans claimed the Florida fighter was fearful of meeting Michalczewski. Jones always calmly answered he would be glad to face Michalczewski in the United States but never in Germany.
Two years ago, when Jones fought Gonzalez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, sports journalists criticized the Florida fighter for his inability to knock out the Californian. Three times Gonzalez was floored by the lightning punches emanating from Jones. But each time he jumped back up, as if breakfast was on the table.
After hearing various deriding questions, Jones had a wrinkled look on his face and told the post fight crowd that Gonzalez would some day be a champion. That he had "a champion's heart" despite most of the sports writers fluffing off the Orange County-based fighter.
Gonzalez was nonplussed.
"I only suffered one loss, to Roy Jones, and he's the best fighter out there so I have to perform good," said Gonzalez before departing for Germany to fight Zsoldt Erdei (18-0) in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Because his world title victory against Michalczewski was not televised in this country, Gonzalez's capture of the title did not have the worldwide effect it should have garnered. If not for the many Californian's attending the World Boxing Hall of Fame dinner on the same day, word of his victory might not have spread as fast. That night, among the tuxedoed crowd, toasts were made on behalf of Gonzalez.
"Man, we celebrated that night," said David Martinez, who trains Librado and Enrique Andrade, two talented brothers who provide sparring for Gonzalez. "I've never seen Julio so focused. He's ready."
But the rest of the country hasn't seen much of Gonzalez since he lost to Jones in July 2001. Now he faces a young speedy German who is a stablemate of Michalczewski and who watched Gonzalez's win that night.
"He probably saw the fight with Dariusz," Gonzalez said with his constant smile. "I would be surprised if he didn't. He knows a little bit about me now."
Thinking about the German fighter's speed that he saw on tape brings back memories of his fight against Jones. It was his first mega fight complete with movie stars, sports celebrities and diamond wearing women.
"He's a good fighter. He has good hand-speed he's a boxer and is a well-skilled fighter. I'm looking forward to fighting him," Gonzalez said respectfully of Erdei.
Then he thought about the words "hand-speed" and figures seemed to dance in his mind before he spoke again.
"I wouldn't say it's the same speed as Roy Jones. Roy Jones is way faster," said Gonzalez with another smile. "I don't think there is anybody as fast as Roy Jones at that weight."
With that, Gonzalez put on his gloves and jumped in the ring to begin his final workout before heading to Germany. Though he faces a hostile crowd and an undefeated German fighter, he feels experience will be in his corner.
"I fought the best," Gonzalez said as if remembering Jones encouraging words after their fight. "I have to prove I'm no fluke."
At the La Habra Gym, which looks more Beverly Hills Taibo than boxing hangout, the regulars gather around to watch their guy go through his daily workouts. Each person offers a bit of insight on Gonzalez's change of intensity.
"He's different, real different," said John Estrada, a La Habra regular who also photographs fighters regularly. "Some times he just kind of drags himself in here and does everything the same. But since he won the title you can see and feel the intensity when he comes in. He's a different man."
Gonzalez won't change a hair in his routine. Nothing. He comes in at the same time, uses the same sparring partners and goes through the same regimen.
"I admit I'm a little superstitious. Well I'm a lot superstitious," Gonzalez meekly says.
For the lanky light heavyweight who used to work in the fields, he never felt he would be defending a world title. He liked boxing but never had aspirations of being considered one of the best in the world.
"When I first started I used to think as long as I win one belt. It didn't matter if it was a world belt or any belt. And I won one," he said. "So then I got two more so then three and now it's for the real world title belt and my goal was to be a champ. Finally I accomplished that so now the goal is to keep it for a long time."
From the beginning Gonzalez steadily improved. One can remember his fight at the Pechanga Entertainment Center in Temecula, California as he fought a nondescript fighter in 1999. It was extraordinary to see a tall Mexican fighter at the 175-pound level, but when he fired a jab he kept it out there dangling like a broken branch.
The next year he was matched against another Mexican light heavyweight, a slugger named Choo Choo Ruiz. Many including myself remembered the sloppy jabs and awkward combinations from the previous year. But that night on Cinco de Mayo in 2000 against Ruiz, it was clear that Gonzalez had evolved into a more efficient fighting machine. He won a brutal fight by ninth round technical knockout.
His electrifying war against Julian Letterlough with multiple knockdowns on each side was reminiscent of a Rocky movie. It brought the Orange County fighter recognition as a fighter with heart. His subsequent loss to Jones seemed to result in lack of interest by the East Coast, but West Coast audiences saw the determination he still harbored in his fights at the Arrowhead Pond.
So when he became the first fighter to beat Michalczewski in the ring, it was not a complete surprise that he had the ability. It was more a surprise that he won by decision. But that means nothing to Gonzalez now.
"This is my first title defense it means everything to me I'm emotionally into this fight and I got to go back to Germany but its no problem going back. I just got to prove to myself and to my fans I'm for real and I'm here to stay," Gonzalez said. "I can't let everybody down in this fight because I'm the first Mexican light heavyweight to win a light heavyweight title. I'm the first one."
With that said Gonzalez tightened his hand wraps a little tighter and walked into the ring to get ready for Germany.
SMITH VS. BAILEY
It's do or die for Ishe Smith when he faces former two-time junior welterweight world champion Randall Bailey at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez near Santa Barbara.
Smith (13-0) is a flashy welterweight who shows signs of breaking out of the pack and into the top contender category. But facing him is the jaw cracking Bailey (27-3) who is making a formal step into the 147-pound level.
Though Smith has an edge in speed, Bailey has an edge in pure knockout power in either hand. It's going to be exciting while it lasts. Don't miss it on Showtime this Thursday night.
TOP RANK RAID
A report that the FBI is investigating Top Rank has caused knee-jerk reaction worldwide. But suggesting that the Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley rematch was fixed has raised many disbelieving heads. Of course the fighters have to be ruled out for the simple reason that we're talking about more than $7 million a piece. No gambler has that kind of money to throw at fighters and they wouldn't take it. It's not worth it.
The only part of their September fight that can be investigated is the judges.
FIGHTS ON TV
Thurs. Showtime, 11 p.m., Ishe Smith (13-0) vs. Randall Bailey (27-3).
Fri. ESPN2, 6:30 p.m., Matt Vanda (29-0) vs. Sam Garr (33-7).
Fri. Telefutura, 9:30 p.m., Fernando Montiel (26-1-1) vs. Adonis Rivas (19-4-1); Daniel Ponce de Leon (15-0) vs. Jesus Perez (21-3-3).
Discuss this Topic - Go to the forums
David Avila's Archives - Click Here
|
