| |
|
|
Mantequilla Gonzalez Looks
To
Make Statement Against Lyell
Junior middleweight knockout artist Jonathan "Mantequilla"
Gonzalez (14-0, 13 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be
looking to make a statement to the boxing world when he
appears live on ShoBox: The New Generation (11 p.m. ET/PT,
delayed on the West Coast) against former world title
challenger Billy Lyell (24-10-2, 5 KOs) of Warren, Ohio, in
the 10-round televised co-feature from the Chumash Casino
Resort in Santa Ynez, California, this Friday, February 17.
Gonzalez vs. Lyell will serve as the chief supporting bout
to the night's main event, featuring fellow Puerto Rican
Thomas Dulorme (13-0, 10 KOs) taking on Aris Ambriz (16-2-1,
8 KOs) for the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF)
welterweight title.
"I am no longer a prospect," maintains the 22-year old
Gonzalez, "I am a contender for a world title and I will
prove it with my performance."
Despite being rated WBC and WBO #7 in the world and #12 WBA,
Gonzalez was recently named to ESPN Columnist Dan Rafael's
Super 25 list of the best prospects of 2011.
"Although I was very happy to be considered one of the best
young fighters of last year, it will be with this knockout
of a tough opponent, who has done well against many
world-class fighters, that I will step out of that role and
into being considered a legitimate threat to beat any 154-lb
champion."
27-year-old Lyell is not only the first fighter to beat
once-promising "Irish" John Duddy, but also gave a very
strong performance against current world champion Julio
Cesar Chavez Jr.
This will be Gonzalez' second consecutive appearance on
ShoBox. In his last fight in June, he scored a lopsided
unanimous 10-round decision over durable trialhorse Richard
Gutierrez. It was the first time he had gone the distance in
his entire pro career.
"Lyell will not be so lucky to hear the final bell," sneered
Gonzalez.
|
|
|
