Jose Gonzalez: Health is The Most Important Thing

By "Mr. Boxing" Giancarlo Oquendo

Upon his arrival at the airport, as he landed back to Puerto Rico, lightweight contender José "Chelo" Gonzalez discussed Saturday's ninth round TKO loss to WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns in Glasgow, Scotland. Gonzalez started very strong and controlled much of the fight. Gonzalez was up on the cards 87-84, but he badly injured his left wrist and that prevented him from coming out for the tenth round.

"We always have heart, we are fighters, we are Puerto Ricans and I always go out to fight in every one of my fights but health is always the most important thing. We are nothing without health," Chelo González expressed to Mr. Boxing.

Gonzalez was bothered that he couldn't make good on his promise to return home to Puerto Rico and present his mother with the title, but the pain was more than he could stand. Chelo was received at the airport with by a handful of fans as well as his family and friends.

Gonzalez expressed his willingness to travel back to Scotland to challenge Burns in a rematch.

Giancarlo Oquendo is a TV Boxing Analyst and he is part of the podcast "Boxeo Estelar Radio." Follow him on Twitter @mrboxingtab