Jonathan Gonzalez on His Fight With Rudy Cisneros, More

By Ryan Burton

 

BoxingScene.com recently caught up with undefeated junior middleweight prospect Jonathan "Mantequilla Gonzalez, who faces Rudy Cisneros (12-1) in tonight's opening bout on ESPN Friday Night Fights.  Gonzalez (12-0 12 KOS), who has ended all of his fights by way of knockout is known as perhaps Puerto Rico's finest prospect.  The 21 year old talks about his ESPN debut, his career and more in this exclusive interview.

 

BoxingScene:  Give us your thoughts on your fight against Rudy Cisneros.

 

Jonathan Gonzalez:  Rudy is a very strong fighter but I feel that I have an advantage in strength.  I am going to go in there and win by knockout or by decision.

 

BS:  Rudy has been out of the ring for a while but he appears to be the most accomplished fighter that you have faced.  Do you feel that he will be the toughest opponent that you have faced so far?

 

JG:  Judging by his record, yes he would be the toughest fighter I have faced so far but we really won't know until we step in the ring.  Once we get in the ring he will see if I am the strongest fighter he has faced and I will know if he is the strongest fighter that I have faced.  I have seen film on him and he appears strong.  I think that by the 5th round he probably will get knocked out.

 

BS:  Speaking of knockouts all 12 of your fights have ended that way.  How important is it to you to keep your knockout streak going?

 

JG:  I don't really go in there looking for a knockout.  It just happens.  When you go in there looking for a knockout, as they say, you get knocked out.  I feel that my hands are really strong and the knockouts just happen in the fights.

 

BS:  This will be your first fight on ESPN.  How do you feel to be fighting on such a big network?

 

JG:  I feel very blessed to have this opportunity.  I feel that I ready to fight on a big stage like this and I plan on putting on a great show.

 

BS:  Like most Puerto Rican fighters the majority of your fights have been in your homeland of Puerto Rico or on the east coast.  How do you feel about fighting in California for the first time?

 

JG:  I feel good about it.  It is a good opportunity for me.  I am glad my promoters got me this fight in California.  I am especially happy to come to California because I haven't been there before.

 

BS:  A lot of the boxing fans in California are of Mexican descent.  Is part of your goal to put on a good show and win some of them over so that they become fans of yours?

 

JG:  I feel good and honored to fight there in front of them.  Yes I want to put on a show but I don't really feel any type of pressure to do anything spectacular.  I am going to do my best and put on a great show.  Of course I want to build up my fan base.

 

BS:  If you get the win as you plan you will improve your record to 13-0.  When do you think you will be ready for a title shot?

 

JG:  That is my promoters job.  They can worry about that.  I am just going to keep training hard and fighting whoever they put in front of me.  Whenever they think I am ready for a title shot I will work hard to try to obtain it.

 

BS:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

JG:  I want to send a shot out to all the people in California and all of my people in Puerto Rico.  I am going to put on a good show for you guys.  I just want to thank them for all the support and please watch my fight on Friday.