With just over twenty years in the sport, feared puncher Jhonny González is still motivated to capture another world title.

At 38-years-old, Gonzalez has won two in a row since getting shocked by another former champion, Tomas Rojas, by majority decision in 2018.

Gonzalez catapulted his career when he beat Thai veteran Ratanachai Sor Vorapin to win his first world title (WBO bantamweight, in October 2005); years later, he also covered himself in glory by traveling to Japan and knocking out Hozumi Hasegawa (April 2011) at home, snatching the WBC featherweight title from him.

Two years later (August 2013), he sealed another great performance by pulling off a big upset with a knockout of Abner Mares to recover the 126-pound crown of the World Boxing Council.

“Each of those victories has its history. The first one, I would remember it for a very sad period. Twenty days before the fight, my uncle (José Luis González) committed suicide, it was a very hard blow for all of us. Before that happened, I thought about giving him the world championship that I won, I dedicated that win to him," Gonzalez said to ESTO.

“I had a thorn stuck in my side (after Toshiaki) Nishioka knocked me out in Monterrey. I had to go (to Japan) to win, and return to the elite; when I conquered that title it was a very beautiful feeling, of great satisfaction.

“From the moment the fight (with Mares) was announced, I knew I was going to beat him. I remember well that a lot of boxing people said that I was already close to retirement and had no chance of winning that night; I showed that this was not the case, my pride was hurt, all of that motivated me to come out with everything and knock him out, it was a spectacular victory."

After suffering his last defeat, Gonzalez switched things up and is training with California-based coach Manny Robles.

"I will stay with Manny, in the fights I have had under his command I have felt very good. When I get my return date, I will see how to establish a working plan with him, for a training camp in California," Gonzalez said.

“The intention is to win the world title of the World Boxing Council (held by Miguel Berchelt), but at this point any opportunity is good and we would take it. The four who are champions are very good fighters. The division is interesting, with the Americans (Joseph Díaz and Jamel Herring)... the Nicaraguan (René Alvarado), Berchelt himself... they all deserve my respect."