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.
Bigger fights are eyed by Gonzalez (25-3-1, 14KOs), who aspires to win titles in at least three weight divisions. The 31-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico even flirted with the idea of a one-fight stop at strawweight should a WBO title opportunity arise. His weight on Thursday marks the first time he weighed under the limit at junior flyweight, where he has campaigned since dropping down following a seventh-round stoppage to then-unbeaten WBO flyweight titlist Kosei Tanaka in August 2019.
Gonzalez weighed 108 pounds for each of his last three starts, including a career-best win over Elwin Soto to claim the WBO junior flyweight strap last October 16 in Fresno, California.
Barriga (11-1, 2KOs) makes his second attempt at a major title. The previous occasion resulted in his lone career defeat, a twelve-round, split decision to unbeaten Carlos Licona in their December 2018 vacant IBF strawweight title fight. Two wins have followed, both taking place in the Philippines and just above the junior flyweight limit.
The bout headlines an eight-fight show that airs live on ProBoxTV.com beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. Below are the weights for the full undercard.
Axel ‘El Mini’ Vega (15-4-1, 8KOs), Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, 107.8 pounds vs. Angelino Cordova (16-0-1, 12 KOs), Caracas, Venezuela, 107.8 pounds–10 rounds, junior flyweight
Hakim Lopez (12-0, 8KOs), Ellenwood, Georgia, 170 pounds vs. Cruse Stewart (8-0, 6KOs), Rock Island, Illinois, 172.4 pounds—8 rounds, light heavyweight
Jaycob Gomez Zayas (4-0, 4KOs), Caguas, P.R., 131.6 pounds vs. Marcello Williams (3-13, 0KOs), Braganca Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil, weight T/K—6 rounds, junior lightweight
Najee Lopez (4-0, 4KOs), Atlanta, 186.8 pounds vs. Jeysson Monroy (1-0, 1KO), Bogota, Colombia, 184.4 pounds—6 rounds, cruiserweight
Jan Paul Rivera (2-0, 2KOs), Ponce, P.R., 126.2 pounds vs. Cesar Martionez (4-6-2, 1KO), Los Angeles, 129 pounds—4 rounds, featherweight
Jocksan Blanco (3-0, 1KO), Caracas, 154.8 pounds vs. Ramon Esperanza (22-20-1, 11KOs), Asuncion, Paraguay, 146.4 pounds—4 rounds, junior middleweight
Trinidad Vargas (pro debut), Carrolton, Texas, 116.2 pounds vs. Josh Aarons (0-2), Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 117.2 pounds—4 rounds, junior bantamweight
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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