Jorge Luis González
# Jorge Luis González

Jorge Luis González (born October 19, 1964) (DOB disputed) is a former heavyweight boxing contender and prospect born in Havana, Cuba. He won the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1987 Pan American Games and the former WBO Latino Heavyweight Champion. On June 17, 1995, the big puncher Gonzalez became the first Cuban boxer to challenge for a heavyweight world title when he fought WBO champion Riddick Bowe at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

## Amateur

González compiled an Amateur Record of 220–13. His highlights include:

* Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist at the 1983 Pan-American Games in Caracas, Venezuela.
* Super Heavyweight Gold Medalist at the 1987 Pan-American Games in Indianapolis, United States. His results were:
   * Defeated Riddick Bowe (United States) 3:2
   * Defeated Lennox Lewis (Canada) 4:1
* Lost to Lennox Lewis at the 1987 North American Championships in Toronto, Canada, by decision.

After an outstanding amateur career in Cuba, where he defeated the likes of Teofilo Stevenson, Tyrell Biggs, and Craig Payne, he defected during a Cuban Team event in Finland, in 1991.

## Pro

He reached the US and turned professional in Miami in June 1991. His progress as a professional was severely hindered by González's refusal to co-operate with trainers or training, feeling as a top Cuban amateur there was nothing he could be taught. He went through several different trainers during his first few years as a pro.

At 6'7, he towered over his opposition, and the majority of his fights featured the huge Gonzalez crudely clubbing his victims to defeat. Although he was criticised for not fighting anyone of note, at the time he was a genuinely feared contender and top-class opponents were reticent to fight him.

His most notable results in accumulating a 23-0 (22 KO's) record were his 10-round beating and TKO of the faded but still very game and tough Renaldo Snipes, a first-round KO of a faded Phil Brown, and a one punch, two-round KO of Mike Evans, a tough fringe contender that nobody had been able to stop in ten years.

In June 1995, after a heated build up, he fought hated arch rival Riddick Bowe in Las Vegas, for the WBO Heavyweight championship. Bowe exposed González for his limitations and lack of development, savagely pounding the Cuban before knocking him clean out in the 6th round.

In 1996 González returned, seemingly out of shape, for a high-profile fight with ex-champ Tim Witherspoon in New York. Gonzalez blew his chance of redemption, as Witherspoon used his superior skills and big power to take González apart, decking him twice and knocking him out in five rounds, issuing an even more complete defeat than Bowe had done.

Later that year González quit midway through a fight with trial horse Ross Puritty, ending his term as a contender.

In 1997 hot prospect and equally giant Michael Grant blew him away in one round, although in 1999 a new and improved González resurfaced, in-shape and more polished, bombing out Alex Stewart in two rounds and outpointing ex-champ Greg Page over ten.

A Mike Tyson fight failed to materialise as Tyson-lookalike Cliff Couser demolished the Cuban in three rounds in 2000. In 2001 González lost to Joe Mesi in four, and his career was effectively dead in 2002 when last minute sub Derek Bryant walked over him in one round.

His only title was the WBO Latino Heavyweight title in which he defeated Daniel Eduardo Neto by Points decision.

## Professional boxing record

| 39 fights | 31 wins | 8 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 27 | 7 |
| By decision | 4 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 39 | Loss | 31–8 | Derek Bryant | TKO | 1 (10), 2:33 | 18 Jan 2002 | Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 38 | Loss | 31–7 | Joe Mesi | TKO | 4 (10), 1:33 | 27 Apr 2001 | Niagara Falls Civic Center, Niagara Falls, New York | |
| 37 | Loss | 31–6 | Cliff Couser | TKO | 3 (10), 2:52 | 5 Aug 2000 | Silver Star Casino, Philadelphia, Mississippi | |
| 36 | Win | 31-5 | Bradley Rone | UD | 8 | 3 Jun 2000 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 35 | Win | 30-5 | Greg Page | UD | 10 | 14 Nov 1999 | Rose Garden Arena, Portland, Oregon | |
| 34 | Win | 29–5 | Tommy Martin | TKO | 9 (10), 1:21 | 25 Jul 1999 | Harrah's, Kansas City, Missouri | |
| 33 | Win | 28-5 | Alex Stewart | TKO | 2 (10), 2:38 | 6 Jun 1999 | New Frontier Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 32 | Win | 27-5 | Rodolfo Marin | TKO | 4 (10), 2:02 | 18 Apr 1999 | Miccosukee Casino, Miami, Florida | |
| 31 | Win | 26-5 | Josh Gormley | TKO | 10 (10), 2:58 | 7 Nov 1998 | Civic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota | |
| 30 | Loss | 25–5 | Paea Wolfgramm | MD | 8 | 15 Aug 1998 | El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas | |
| 29 | Loss | 25–4 | Michael Grant | TKO | 1 (12), 2:00 | 7 Nov 1997 | Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada | For IBC World Heavyweight Title |
| 28 | Win | 25–3 | Daniel Eduardo Neto | PTS | 12 | 19 Apr 1997 | Convention Center, Condado, Puerto Rico | Won vacant WBO Latino Heavyweight Title |
| 27 | Loss | 24–3 | Ross Puritty | TKO | 7 (10), 2:48 | 5 Dec 1996 | Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma | |
| 26 | Loss | 24–2 | Tim Witherspoon | TKO | 5 (10), 2:54 | 10 May 1996 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Jason Waller | TKO | 4 (10), 2:07 | 30 Sep 1995 | The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 24 | Loss | 23–1 | Riddick Bowe | KO | 6 (12), 1:50 | 17 Jun 1995 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada | For WBO World Heavyweight Title |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Brian Scott | TKO | 2 (10), 2:34 | 11 Mar 1995 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Tui Toia | TKO | 2 (10), 1:01 | 18 Nov 1994 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Olian Alexander | RTD | 7 (10), 3:00 | 5 Nov 1994 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Calvin Jones | TKO | 4 (10), 1:50 | 31 Aug 1994 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Mike Ronay Evans | KO | 2 (10), 2:48 | 25 Jun 1994 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Mike Rouse | KO | 1 (10), 2:48 | 25 Feb 1994 | Deauville Beach Resort, Miami Beach, Florida | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Renaldo Snipes | TKO | 10 (10), 2:15 | 6 Nov 1993 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Kimmuel Odum | KO | 2 (10), 2:15 | 17 Aug 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Dwayne Hall | TKO | 1 (8), 2:22 | 22 May 1993 | RFK Stadium, Washington, District of Columbia | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Mike White | TKO | 4 (10), 2:21 | 13 Mar 1993 | Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Larry Davis | TKO | 2 (8), 2:02 | 26 Dec 1992 | Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Philipp Brown | KO | 1 (8), 2:51 | 6 Oct 1992 | Mahi Shrine Temple, Miami Beach, Florida | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Mike Acey | TKO | 1 (10), 2:17 | 26 Sep 1992 | Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Michael Greer | RTD | 2 (6), 3:00 | 19 Jun 1992 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | David Graves | PTS | 8 | 21 May 1992 | Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Tyrone Armstrong | KO | 2 (6), 2:53 | 18 Apr 1992 | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Mike Gans | TKO | 5 (6), 0:57 | 15 Mar 1992 | Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Benji Smith | TKO | 1 (6), 0:15 | 13 Dec 1991 | Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Mark George | TKO | 2 (6) | 23 Nov 1991 | The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Sam Adkins | KO | 2 (6) | 6 Sep 1991 | Miami Beach, Florida | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Larry Fortner | TKO | 1 (4) | 30 Jul 1991 | Miami Beach, Florida | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Adolfo Morell | TKO | 2 (4) | 10 Jul 1991 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | William Campudani | TKO | 3 (4) | 21 Jun 1991 | Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida | Professional debut |
