Junior middleweight knockout artist Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (14-0, 13 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be looking to make a statement to the boxing world when he appears live on ShoBox: The New Generation (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) against former world title challenger Billy Lyell (24-10-2, 5 KOs) of Warren, Ohio, in the 10-round televised co-feature from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, this Friday, February 17.
Gonzalez vs. Lyell will serve as the chief supporting bout to the night’s main event, featuring fellow Puerto Rican Thomas Dulorme (13-0, 10 KOs) taking on Aris Ambriz (16-2-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) welterweight title.
“I am no longer a prospect,” maintains the 22-year old Gonzalez, “I am a contender for a world title and I will prove it with my performance.”
Despite being rated WBC and WBO #7 in the world and #12 WBA, Gonzalez was recently named to ESPN Columnist Dan Rafael’s Super 25 list of the best prospects of 2011.
“Although I was very happy to be considered one of the best young fighters of last year, it will be with this knockout of a tough opponent, who has done well against many world-class fighters, that I will step out of that role and into being considered a legitimate threat to beat any 154-lb champion.”
27-year-old Lyell is not only the first fighter to beat once-promising “Irish” John Duddy, but also gave a very strong performance against current world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
This will be Gonzalez’ second consecutive appearance on ShoBox. In his last fight in June, he scored a lopsided unanimous 10-round decision over durable trialhorse Richard Gutierrez. It was the first time he had gone the distance in his entire pro career.
“Lyell will not be so lucky to hear the final bell,” sneered Gonzalez.
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