Jorge Luis Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Jorge Luis González (born October 19, 1964) (DOB disputed) is a former heavyweight
boxing contender and prospect born in Havana
, Cuba
. He won the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games
and the 1987 Pan American Games
and the former WBO Latino
Heavyweight
Champion.
After an outstanding amateur career in Cuba, where he defeated the likes of Teofilo Stevenson
, Tyrell Biggs
, and Craig Payne
, he defected during a Cuban Team event in Finland
, in 1991.
At 6'7, he towered over his opposition, and the majority of his fights featured the huge Gonzalez crudely clubbing his victims to defeat. Although he was criticised for not fighting anyone, at the time he was a genuinely feared contender and nobody wanted to fight him.
His most notable results in accumulating a 23-0 (22 KO's) record were his 10 round beating and TKO of the faded but still very game and tough Renaldo Snipes
, a first round kayo of a faded Phil Brown, and a one punch, two-round kayo of Mike Evans, a tough fringe contender that nobody had been able to stop in ten years.
In June 1995, after a heated build up, he fought hated arch rival Riddick Bowe
in Las Vegas
, for the WBO Heavyweight
championship. Bowe exposed González for his limitations and lack of development, savagely pounding the Cuban before knocking him clean out in the 6th round.
In 1996 González returned, seemingly out of shape, for a high profile fight with ex-champ Tim Witherspoon
in New York. Gonzalez blew his chance of redemption, as Witherspoon used his superior skills and big power to take González apart, decking him twice and knocking him out in five rounds, issuing an even more complete defeat than Bowe had done.
Later that year González shockingly quit midway through a fight with trial horse Ross Puritty
, ending his term as a contender.
In 1997 hot prospect and equally giant Michael Grant
blew him away in one round, although in 1999 a new and improved González resurfaced, in-shape and more polished, bombing out Alex Stewart
in two rounds and outpointing ex-champ Greg Page
over ten.
A Mike Tyson
fight failed to materialise as Tyson-lookalike Cliff Couser
demolished the Cuban in three rounds in 2000. In 2001 González lost to Joe Mesi
in four, and his career was effectively dead in 2002 when last minute sub Derek Bryant
walked over him in one round.
His only title was the WBO Latino
Heavyweight
title which he defeated Daniel Eduardo Neto by Points decision.
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxing contender and prospect born in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, 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...
. He won the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games
Boxing at the 1983 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1983 Pan American Games was held in Caracas, Venezuela, from August 14 to August 29. The super heavyweight division was included for the first time.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:*...
and the 1987 Pan American Games
Boxing at the 1987 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1987 Pan American Games was held in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, United States from August 8 to August 23.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:*...
and the former WBO Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
Champion.
Amateur
González compiled an Amateur Record of 220-13. His highlights include:- Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist at the 1983 Pan-American Games in Caracas, Venezuela
- Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist at the 1987 Pan-American Games in Indianapolis, United States. Results included:
- Defeated Riddick BoweRiddick BoweRiddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
(United States) on points - Defeated Lennox LewisLennox LewisLennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
(Canada) on points
- Defeated Riddick Bowe
- Lost to Lennox Lewis at the 1987 North American Championships in Toronto, Canada, by decision.
After an outstanding amateur career in Cuba, where he defeated the likes of Teofilo Stevenson
Teófilo Stevenson
Teófilo Stevenson Lawrence or Teófilo Stevenson is a former Cuban amateur boxer. He is one of the only three boxers to win three Olympic gold medals, alongside Hungarian László Papp and fellow Cuban Félix Savón....
, Tyrell Biggs
Tyrell Biggs
Tyrell Biggs , is an American heavyweight boxer. He won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA in boxing at the Superheavyweight division, after gaining bronze the previous year at the 1983 Pan American Games....
, and Craig Payne
Craig Payne
Craig Payne is a former US-American boxer best known for winning the National Golden Gloves in 1983.-Amateur:Payne won the National Golden Gloves in 1983 beating a young Mike Tyson ....
, he defected during a Cuban Team event in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, in 1991.
Pro
He reached the US and turned professional in Miami in June 1991. His progress as a professional was severely hindered by González's refusal to co-operate with trainers or training, feeling as a top Cuban amateur there was nothing he could be taught. He went through several different trainers during his first few years as a pro, due to his arrogance and laziness.At 6'7, he towered over his opposition, and the majority of his fights featured the huge Gonzalez crudely clubbing his victims to defeat. Although he was criticised for not fighting anyone, at the time he was a genuinely feared contender and nobody wanted to fight him.
His most notable results in accumulating a 23-0 (22 KO's) record were his 10 round beating and TKO of the faded but still very game and tough Renaldo Snipes
Renaldo Snipes
Renaldo Snipes, born Reenaold Snipes on August 15, 1956 in Houston, Texas, is an accomplished American boxer, best known for his title championship bout with Larry Holmes.-Amateur career:...
, a first round kayo of a faded Phil Brown, and a one punch, two-round kayo of Mike Evans, a tough fringe contender that nobody had been able to stop in ten years.
In June 1995, after a heated build up, he fought hated arch rival Riddick Bowe
Riddick Bowe
Riddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, for the WBO Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
championship. Bowe exposed González for his limitations and lack of development, savagely pounding the Cuban before knocking him clean out in the 6th round.
In 1996 González returned, seemingly out of shape, for a high profile fight with ex-champ Tim Witherspoon
Tim Witherspoon
"Terrible" Tim Witherspoon is an American boxer who was twice world heavyweight champion.-Early career:Witherspoon had eight and a half amateur bouts, losing one to Marvis Frazier on decision after getting knocked down....
in New York. Gonzalez blew his chance of redemption, as Witherspoon used his superior skills and big power to take González apart, decking him twice and knocking him out in five rounds, issuing an even more complete defeat than Bowe had done.
Later that year González shockingly quit midway through a fight with trial horse Ross Puritty
Ross Puritty
Ross Puritty is a retired heavyweight professional boxer. A high-level journeyman and occasional heavyweight contender, Puritty is best remembered for his shocking upset of Wladimir Klitschko in 1998 that won him the WBC international Heavyweight title.- Professional Boxing career :Purrity made...
, ending his term as a contender.
In 1997 hot prospect and equally giant Michael Grant
Michael Grant (boxer)
Michael Anthony Grant is a professional heavyweight boxer. He is 6' 7" tall, with an 86' reach. A natural born athlete before boxing he blossomed into a three-sport star at Chicago's Harper High School...
blew him away in one round, although in 1999 a new and improved González resurfaced, in-shape and more polished, bombing out Alex Stewart
Alex Stewart
Alex Stewart is a professional boxer, who represented Jamaica at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.-Amateur career:...
in two rounds and outpointing ex-champ Greg Page
Greg Page (boxer)
Greg Page was a boxer from Louisville, Kentucky. He was the World Boxing Association Heavyweight Champion from 1984 to 1985...
over ten.
A Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
fight failed to materialise as Tyson-lookalike Cliff Couser
Cliff Couser
Clifford Couser is a heavyweight boxer. Nicknamed "The Black Bull" and often "Twin Tyson" for his resemblance to Mike Tyson, Couser fought several contenders from his era...
demolished the Cuban in three rounds in 2000. In 2001 González lost to Joe Mesi
Joe Mesi
"Baby" Joe Mesi is an American boxer and politician from Tonawanda, New York. He is a registered member of the Democratic Party.- Early life :...
in four, and his career was effectively dead in 2002 when last minute sub Derek Bryant
Derek Bryant
Derek Bryant , born April 19, 1971 in Philadelphia, PA, is an American heavyweight boxer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has the boxing ID number US-PA-017121. He is a journeyman fighter who has appeared on the TV program Friday Night Fights. He holds wins against Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Taurus...
walked over him in one round.
His only title was the WBO Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
title which he defeated Daniel Eduardo Neto by Points decision.