Philippines, 20 Nov 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Putting September Behind Him, Gonzalez 100% Ready and on Weight

PhilBoxing.com


According to his advisor, Gabby Penagaricano, Puerto Rican junior middleweight slugger Jonathan "Mantequilla" Gonzalez (15-0-1, 13 KOs) has turned a corner in his career after having the best camp of his career.

Looking to erase the memory of his lackluster, overweight performance last September against former world champion Sergei Dzinziruk, Gonzalez will appear in the co-featured bout of ESPN's Friday Night Fights 2013 debut broadcast on Friday, January 4, 2013, live from Stage 305 in the Magic City Casino in Miami, Florida against Philadelphia's Derek "Pooh" Ennis (23-3-1, 13 KOs).

Presented by Warriors Boxing and Bad Dog Productions, in association with the Magic City Casino, the live broadcast is set to begin at 10 PM Eastern on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as online through WatchESPN.com, and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.

In the night's 12-round main event, IBF #6-rated Rances Barthelemy will face IBF #14-rated Arash Usmanee in a junior lightweight voluntary eliminator for the #2 contender position.

"Jonathan has been in camp in Florida for close to two full months without any interruptions," explained Penagaricano. "These have been the best preparations of his career. He'll be 100% on fight night, on weight and ready to go."

According to Penagaricano, the debacle in September taught Gonzalez a lot about the commitment required to excel at the elite level of boxing.

"He's absolutely maturing as a result of the September fight and everything that happened. I think that camp, he needed to be in Puerto Rico for personal reasons and he wasn't able to be with his trainer, and there were interruptions and distractions. Even apart from the weight, he was not 100% like he will be this time. This time has been fantastic. He definitely made the right decisions for this one. He has taken this camp very seriously. We're all seeing him maturing as a fighter and as a person. I think he realized the need to leave Puerto Rico for camp every fight, like other important fighters from here have done. He notices the difference in his level of conditioning.

Penagaricano is also happy with Gonzalez's choice to face Ennis and what it says about the 23-year-old.

"It would have been very easy to find some opponent for him to beat in one or two rounds, but in his career, he's never been like that. He's a prospect that has faced quality opposition since the beginning. His record has a lot of opponents with winning records, which is not typical anymore. The majority of opponents have been decent opposition and he has been able to knock all but one or two out. And now, even though we could have picked someone very easy for him, this opponent came across who is very decent and capable fighter and he said right away that's the fight he wants. That's just how he is. He will always choose the harder opponent. With his ability and this new mentality, I have no doubt he will become one of the great Puerto Rican fighters."

Jonathan Gonzalez is co-promoted by Warriors Boxing, Gary Shaw Productions, and Universal Promotions.

The undercard, which will be announced shortly, will feature several young local and international rising stars.

Tickets are on sale now on the Magic City Casino website www.magiccitycasino.com as well as in person at the Magic City Players Club. They are priced at $100, $75, $50 and $35.

Doors open at 7:30 pm and the first bell is at 8:00.

About Magic City Casino
Magic City Casino features 800 Las Vegas-style slot machines, 18-table Poker Room, outdoor concert amphitheater, multipurpose indoor venue, seasonal live greyhound racing and multiple food and beverage outlets, among other state-of-the-art amenities. The casino is open every day (Sunday through Thursday: 10 am to 4 am; Friday and Saturday: 10 am to 5 am). For more information, visit www.magiccitycasino.com.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • JC Chavez Jr to return in January 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 20 Nov 2025
  • Houston Rockets Subdue Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-104, Gain Tie for 2nd in the West
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 20 Nov 2025
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 1: 1904 OLYMPICS AT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Thu, 20 Nov 2025
  • Pacquiao, Nine Other Pinoys in Latest Ring Ratings
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 20 Nov 2025
  • QUOTES FROM MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS LOS ANGELES OPEN WORKOUT AT WILD CARD BOXING CLUB AND LAS VEGAS OPEN WORKOUT AHEAD OF NOV. 29 FIGHT NIGHT AT PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Thu, 20 Nov 2025
  • Super Featherweight Sluggers ‘Tsendy’ Erdenebat and Abraham Montoya Agree to Meet in Short-Notice Co-Featured Bout on Proboxtv’s Friday Night Fights
    , Thu, 20 Nov 2025
  • Cartagenas, Yu top 4th DCHS Fun Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 20 Nov 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 NOVEMBER 2025: Espinosa Defeats Khegai; Benn Gets Even With Eubank Jnr; Catterall Stops Essuman
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 19 Nov 2025
  • Paras to challenge Malajika for IBO World super flyweight title on Nov. 29 in South Africa
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 19 Nov 2025
  • Lebron James is first player to play 23 seasons in NBA history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 19 Nov 2025
  • Team Tira Tira Sampaloc Tres is SJDM Woodpusher Society 3X3 Rapid Chess Tournament Champion
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 19 Nov 2025
  • RUN IT BACK! GOLDEN BOY KICKS OFF 2026 FIGHT SCHEDULE WITH NIGHT OF HIGH STAKES REMATCHES
    , Wed, 19 Nov 2025
  • Boxlab Promotions “Night of Champions XIII” Undercard Bouts Announced
    , Wed, 19 Nov 2025
  • Porres-Narukami fight moved to Nov. 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 19 Nov 2025
  • Rematch for the ages
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 18 Nov 2025
  • "Limping" Boston Showing Famed Celtics Pride
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 18 Nov 2025
  • IIEE-Trocio Engineers defeated Splashers Lawyers in the BPBL Opening
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 18 Nov 2025
  • ThunderDome 52 Card Preview
    , Tue, 18 Nov 2025
  • Los Angeles Lakers may be under NBA gambling Investigation
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 18 Nov 2025
  • PLAYER+ and BIBA Announce Official Partnership
    , Tue, 18 Nov 2025
  • Roberto Racasa Claims 7 Medals at Asia Open International Memory Championships in Hyderabad, India
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 18 Nov 2025
  • Bacnotan Pickleball Club Marks First Anniversary With Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 18 Nov 2025
  • Connor Benn Targets Barrios' WBC Welter Belt After Defeating Chris Eubank Jnr
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 17 Nov 2025
  • NBA Daily: Sans Wembanyama, Spurs Dominate Kings 123 – 110
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 17 Nov 2025
  • GM Joey Antonio finishes second in Spain chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 17 Nov 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.