Mark Anthony Barriga: record, next fight and profile →
A strong second half surge by Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez was enough to spare Puerto Rico the feeling of being left without a single male boxer to hold a major title.
Axel Aragon Vega couldn’t believe what he heard when the scores were read aloud. The former two-time title challenger was certain that he did more than enough to turn away unbeaten Angelino Cordova in their ten-round junior flyweight bout. Judge William Glover (97-93) was the only one who saw things that way, as judges Tina Griffith (97-93) and Alex Levin (98-92) awarded Cordova a stunning and highly questionable split decision win in their co-feature bout Friday evening on ProBox TV from Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.
Najee Lopez continues to be a knockout every time out. The unbeaten cruiserweight from Ellenwood, Georgia turned away his most established foe to date, stopping Jeysson Monroy in the third round of their preliminary bout Friday evening on ProBox TV from Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida. Monroy (1-1, 1KO) was floored twice in round two but it was internal bleeding in his right eye that forced the stoppage. Lopez (5-0, 5KOs) was well in control to that point, putting in body work early against Monroy, a 2012 Olympian for Colombia who has participated in several combat sports mediums before returning to boxing last summer.
There is a part of Jonathan Gonzalez that is not entirely inspired by the challenge he next faces. Any fear of a letdown, however, is trumped by the understanding that a spectacular win on Friday leads to more lucrative opportunities within the immediate grasp of the Puerto Rican southpaw.
Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez has never weighed lighter than 108 pounds for a pro fight. He came in right at that limit for his WBO junior flyweight title-winning effort over Elwin Soto last October, and has previously campaigned at flyweight and junior bantamweight. However, the Puerto Rican southpaw is confident that—for the right opportunity—he could see himself as a strawweight just long enough to collect another belt.
Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez arrived at the lightest weight of his career for his first fight as a defending major titlist. The crafty Puerto Rican southpaw tipped the scales at a shredded 107.6 pounds in defense of his WBO junior flyweight title. Rodriguez faces Philippines’ Mark Anthony Barriga, who checked in at a fighting ready 106.4 pounds for their scheduled 12-round main event Friday evening at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.
Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez will return to a familiar setting for his first title defense. The reigning WBO junior flyweight titlist from Caguas, Puerto Rico is set to next face former title challenger Mark Anthony ‘Baby Boy’ Barriga. The scheduled 12-round battle of diminutive southpaws will take place June 24 atop a ProBox TV show in association with All Star Boxing, Inc. from Osceola Heritage Park (OHP) in Kissimmee, Florida, event handlers confirmed Tuesday morning.
Filipino super bantamweight sensation “Magic” Mike Plania (25-1) of Sanman Boxing will be back in the ring as he faces former world title contender Ricardo “El Matematico” Nunez of Panama.
LOS ANGELES – Chris Arreola, hoping to get one more shot at a heavyweight title, stopped journeyman Maurenzo Smith at the end of the sixth round on the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury card Saturday at Staples Center.
In what is a card full of big men, who rule the heavyweight division, one of the undercard bouts will come from the smallest boxing weight class when Mark Anthony Barriga of the Philippines takes on Carlos Licona of Los Angeles for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimum championship belt (105 lbs).