Jorge Luis Gonzalez Remembered, Trash Talk Pissed’Em Off Heavyweight Contender
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
The ring has a history of pro boxers who, after fighting for a world title and not winning it, either abandoned their career or simply faded off the map due to various factors. Personal motivation is a tough apple. Alexis Arguello and Bernard Hopkins are examples of fighters who overcame early losses to enjoy stellar careers.
Jorge Luis Gonzalez was a Cuban national champion in 1983 and 1988, and a heavyweight defector in the era before Luis Ortiz. Gonzalez defeated Lenox Lewis and Riddick Bowe in the amateurs. Gonzalez had a solid attention-grabbing professional start, and his boxing career was a great education on how a top notch amateur pedigree will certainly lead to a professional opportunity. Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, Gonzalez was 23-0 going into his World Boxing Organization World Heavyweight title bout with Riddick Bowe.
Gonzalez, who had a strange hairdo and contemptuous attitude, had a way of pissing off the general public and his opponents. His trash talk piss’em off attitude with everybody sold tickets. A controversial personality predecessor to Adrien Broner, Gonzalez flashed his nasty star in the heavyweight division only briefly. Gonzalez thought Bowe would be his calling card to boxing riches and stardom. Bowe, who defeated every opponent he ever faced, won the first five rounds before knocking out Gonzalez face first in the sixth round in June 1995 and ending Gonzalez’ dream of winning the world heavyweight title. Gonzalez never regained his championship abilities and momentum after losing to Bowe.
Although Gonzalez subsequently decisioned former world heavyweight champion Greg Page, and stopped former contender Alex Stewart, he would lose seven more times between 1997 and 2002. This included being stopped by Michael Grant Derek Bryant in the first round. He was also stopped by Ross Purrity (who beat Wladimir Klitschko), Cliff Couser (who beat Monte Barrett), and Joe Mesi (final record 36-0). He was also decisioned by New Zealand’s Paea Wolfgramm. After getting stopped in his last comeback attempt three bouts in 2000, 2001 and 2002, Gonzalez retired with a record of 31-8 with 27 knockouts.
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