Jorge Luis Gonzalez
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| Jorge Luis Gonzalez | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Jorge Luis Gonzalez |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Reach | 32½“ [1] |
| Nationality | Cuban |
| Birth date | October 19, 1964 |
| Birth place | Havana, Cuba |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 39 |
| Wins | 31 |
| Wins by KO | 27 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Jorge Luis Gonzalez Jorge Luis Gonzalez |
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Competitor for  Cuba |
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| Men’s Boxing | |||
| Pan American Games | |||
| Gold | Caracas 1983 | Super Heavyweight | |
| Gold | Indianapolis 1987 | Super Heavyweight | |
Jorge Luis Gonzalez (b. October 19, 1964) (DOB disputed) is a former heavyweight boxer born in Havana, Cuba, who won the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1987 Pan American Games.
[edit] Amateur
Gonzalez 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 Bowe (United States]] on points
- Defeated Lennox Lewis (United States]] on points
- 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, Tyrell Biggs, and Craig Payne, he defected during a Cuban Team event in Finland, in 1991.
[edit] Pro
He reached the US and turned professional in Miami in June 1991. His progress as a professional was severely hindered by Gonzalez'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, it should be noted that 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 less regarded WBO belt. Bowe exposed Gonzalez for his limitations and lack of development, savagely pounding the Cuban before knocking him clean out in the 6th round.
In 1996 Gonzalez 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 Gonzalez apart, decking him twice and knocking him out in five rounds, issuing an even more complete defeat than Bowe had done.
Later that year Gonzalez shockingly quit midway through a fight with trialhorse Ross Purrity, 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 Gonzalez 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 Gonzalez 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.
