On June 11 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, undefeated super welterweight, Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (13-0, 13 KOs) of Barrio Obrero, Puerto Rico, will face experienced Colombian veteran Richard Gutierrez (24-6 -1, 16 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the WBA-NABA and WBO Latino Youth Middleweight Championships.
Gonzalez vs. Gutierrez will be part of Boricua Invasion II, the second half of back-to-back boxing shows to celebrate Puerto Rican Pride Parade Day, featuring the island’s best prospects in challenging showdowns and will be televised live on a special Saturday edition of ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME® (10:35 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
‘Mantequilla’ was last seen scoring a KO 7 over former ESPN’s The Contender star Rudy Cisneros of Chicago.
“I’m ready for this challenge. Gutierrez has a lot of experience but I know I have the necessary tools to win. My focus is to win these two titles because they will help me someday fight for a world title, “said González, who is promoted by Universal Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions and Warriors Boxing.
Gutierrez is most recognized by the boxing fans for his wars with Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo and Joshua Clottey. Team Puerto Rico Boxing was developed by Shaw, DiBella, Bustillo and Margules in order to group the best young talent on the island on one team.
Team Puerto Rico’s Next Appearance:
Back-to-back, on June 10 and 11 (Friday and Saturday before the 2011 National Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday) at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, Gary Shaw Productions and DiBella Entertainment will present Boricua Invasion I and II, featuring members of Team Puerto Rico Boxing, the eight-man team of Puerto Rico’s future ring stars.
Friday’s Boricua Invasion I will feature the unstoppable welterweight on everybody’s “one to watch” list, Thomas Dulorme (11-0, 10 KOs) vs. former world champion DeMarcus Corley; Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico’s highlight-reel welterweight KO specialist Kenny “Battlestar” Galarza (14-1, 14 KOs) vs. Puerto Rican compatriot Irving Garcia and the future superstar already fighting in main events after just two bouts, Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (2-0, 2 KOs).
The main bouts of Boricua Invasion I will be televised on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Saturday’s Boricua Invasion II will feature four more members of Team Puerto Rico: featherweight Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (12-0, 10 KOs) vs. Dat Nguyen; junior middleweight Jonathan “Mantequilla Gonzalez (12-0, 12 KOs) vs. Richard Gutierrez; and light welterweight Hector “El Flaco” Sanchez (19-1, 9 KOs) vs. Vincent Arroyo. Also scheduled for action are Team Puerto Rico light welterweight Jorge “Machito” Maysonet Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs); plus a special off-TV appearance by Puerto Rico-born light welterweight Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (15-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn.
The main bouts of Boricua Invasion II will be broadcast live on Showtime: The
New Generation.
Tickets for Boricua Invasion I on Friday, June 10 are priced at $175, $125, $75, $45 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. On Friday, doors will open at 6:00 pm and the action starts at 6:30.
Tickets for Boricua Invasion II on Saturday, June 11 are priced at $200, $150, $85, and $55 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. On Saturday, doors will open at 7:00 pm and the action starts at 7:30.
For VIP Package tickets to both nights, please call DiBella Entertainment at 212-947-2577.
The Roseland Ballroom is located at 239 West 52nd Street in New York City.
All bouts are subject to change.
JOSE “CHELO” GONZALEZ AND JONATHAN OQUENDO AGAINST MEXICAN FIGHTERS IN 3RD EDITION OF SERIES “A PUÑO LIMPIO” THIS FRIDAY, MAY 3 IN TOA BAJA, PUERTO RICO
TOA BAJA, PUERTO RICO- Unbeaten lightweight Jose “Chelo” Gonzalez and superbantamweight contender Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo will face mexicans Jose “Pipino” Cuevas Jr. and Jesus Martinez, respectively, in the third edition of the series “A Puño Limpio”, this Friday, June 3, at the Antonio R. Barcelo coliseum in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, in a PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) presentation to be televised on WAPA America.
Gonzalez (15-0 y 11KOs), who is a native of Toa Baja, will fight “Pipino” Cuevas Jr. (14-6, 12 KOs), son of former world champion Pipino Cuevas, for the WBO Intercontinetal Lightweight Title in a 10 round bout.
“We are back in Toa Baja with this show and the title fight for Chelo Gonzalez in his hometown against a dangerous boxer as Pipino Cuevas Jr. Also we have in action Jonathan Oquendo and Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez and some of the best prospects of this area in the program”, President of PRBBP Ivan Rivera said.
For “Chelo” Gonzalez this will bet his third bout of the year 2011 and the fifth time he fights in his town.
“I feel proud to be in the main event in my tow, with my people and I have to say that I’m trained and prepared for this fight. I don’t know about my foe, but I’m going to do a good job next Friday”, Gonzalez said.
In the coestelar fight, #2 WBO superbantamweight ranked, Oquendo (20-2, 13KOs) will face Martinez (18-7, 11KOs) in a 10 round fight with a 124 pounds limit.
In other interesting TV bout, prospect Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (2-0, 2KOs) will face Ivan Moxey (2-3, 1KO) in a 112lb four round fight.
Meanwhile, six rounds, Luis Joel González (6-0-1, 4KOs) will face Kievy Arce (4-6-1, 2KOs) in 140 pounds. Also six rounds, Andrés “Pajita” Navarro (4-4-1, 4KOs) will face a rival to be announced in 130 pounds.
In four rounds bouts, Anthony Sánchez (3-0-1, 3KOs) versus José Collazo (2-1, 2KOs) in 140 pounds; debutant Ken Álvarez versus Radamés Vélez (1-1, 1KO) in 135 pounds; debutant Jonel Nieves against Jonathan González (0-1) in 118 pounds, and debutants Francisco Ocasio and Fernando Ramos will fight in 135 pounds.
“A Puño Limpio” will be seen on WAPA America to the United States of America from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 (Eastern Time).
Tickets availables in Ticketcenter, (www.tcpr.com – (787) 792-5000. Prices are $15 and $33.
Teenager O’Callaghan Gets Another Stern Test, Faces Scriven on 4th June
This Saturday Islington teenage boxer Brett O’Callaghan makes his second professional outing, against the experienced Nottingham battler Matt Scriven, at the Olivia Goodwin Main Events promoted ‘Search & Destroy’ event at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on the 4th June 2011.
O’Callaghan endured a real baptism of fire on his 4th December debut, which fell just one day after his nineteenth birthday. Not only was his opponent switched at the last minute from Gary Cooper, a relatively inexperienced fighter, to the one hundred and one fight veteran Billy Smith, but he also badly damaged his hand early on in the fight.
The youngster showed maturity beyond his tender years by controlling his much older opponent with fast hands and solid jabs. As the fight moved into to the second half Smith tried to bully the younger O’Callaghan back onto the ropes without success as the savvy youth used smart footwork and his solid jabs to keep Smith at bay and earn a tidy 39-37 points victory.
Early in May, after months of physiotherapy to a damaged knuckle ligament at the London Hand Clinic, O’Callaghan returned to full training under the tutorledge of Alec Wilkey, at the TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, to prepare for his upcoming showdown with Scriven.
Following a training session earlier O’Callaghan spoke briefly on the injury and his upcoming fight, “My first fight was against Billy Smith in December, I won it but tore a ligament in my knuckle. I’ve been having physio since then and it’s all good now. My hands better now so I can’t wait for June 4th.
I’ve not seen Matt Scriven fight before but there’s a few guys here at the gym that have fought him, so I’ve been getting some good advice that should help me on the night.
Alec (coach Alec Wilkey) and myself been working on some things. Training’s been going really well, I feel strong. Stronger and sharper than I did before my first fight.
Sparring’s been really good, been sparring Erick Ochieng, Nathan Weise and Danny Connor. Yeah, sparring’s been really good.
I’m really looking forward to Saturday, it’s going to be a great show. It’s been six months since I fought so I’m going to enjoy every minute of the fight. Hopefully at the end I’ll have my second win.”
Brett O’Callaghan versus Matt Scriven will be part of the fifteen bout undercard supporting the Ryan Barrett – Geoffrey Munika International Masters lightweight Title fight at the Olivia Goodwin Main Events promoted ‘Search & Destroy’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 4th June 2011.
Tickets, priced £35 (Standard seated) and £50 (Ringside) for the ‘Search and Destroy’ event are available on-line now at www.tkoboxoffice.com, in person at The TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or from any boxer appearing on the show. For further information call: 07960 850645