Jonathan González (flyweight)

Jonathan González Ortiz (born April 24, 1991) is a Puerto Rican professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior flyweight title from 2021 to 2024. As an amateur, González won gold medals at the 2008 Youth World Championships and the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, both at flyweight.

Early life

González was introduced to boxing at age four by his father, Luis González, who was a pugilist himself, having won Golden Glove awards in 1980 and 1982. When he was four years old, he began training along his progenitor. González's mother died during his youth. After entering competitive circuits, he began dedicating some of his biggest wins to her. González trained in Orlando Piñeiro's gymnasium, often sparring with both amateurs and professionals. In November 2008, Piñeiro emphasized the dedication that the pugilist invested during workouts, claiming that as an amateur, he had been able to knockout professionals adversaries during sparring.

Amateur career

AIBA Youth World Championship and national titles

In 2008, González won Puerto Rico's youth national championship. González's first senior competition was the XI José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, which began on May 20, 2008. Where he lost to Pan American medallist, Juan Carlos Payano, in the quarterfinals by scores of 16:14.
On October 29, 2008, González debuted in the International Boxing Association's Youth World Championships. In his first contest, he defeated Kyle Freiberg of Australia by points, 10:0. On October 30, 2008, González was paired against Welbeth Loberanis of the Philippines, winning 18:5. In the third date, he competed against Almas Zhakipov of Kazakhstan, winning his closest decision of the tournament, 14:11. In the semifinals, González defeated Adam López of the United States, 11:5. With this performance, he advanced to the finals, facing the winner of the other branch, Yuniel Robles of Cuba. González won the Youth World Championship against Robles, defeating him with scores of 12:5. With this victory, he joined John John Molina, Aníbal Santiago Acevedo, Carlos Febres and Daniel Alicea as Puerto Rican gold medalists in this competition. Upon returning to Puerto Rico, González was surprised to encounter a large welcoming ceremony, which included the presence of his stablemate Juan Manuel López. His next competition was the ''Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos'', Puerto Rico's national championship tournament. The semifinals took place on February 21, 2009, where González defeated Carlos Narváez (8:5) to advance. In the finals, he was matched against Pan American and Central American champion, McWilliams Arroyo. Early in the contest, González was able to use his speed and counterattack to establish control of the fight’s tempo, winning the first round 3:0. This pattern continued in the next stanza, where he was able to score six more points, including three in only eighteen seconds, before his opponent scored his first point. Arroyo attempted to pressure the fight on the third, reducing the difference to 9:4, before González had one final advance, securing the final score of 11:5. Following this competition, he served as a sparring partner for Juan Manuel López, who was preparing for a defense against Gerry Peñalosa. The pugilist was selected due to his speed.

Eliminatory tournaments and regional title

González's returned to action at the XII José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, which began on May 19, 2009. Prior to the competition, the local media emphasized the rematch between him and Arroyo, labeling them as "nemesis". González debuted on the tournament's third date, defeating Patricio Calero of Ecuador by points, 10:9. After advancing to the finals, he was matched against Arroyo, who won the second bracket. On this fight, Arroyo was able to win by points, gathering rounds of 6:3, 12:6 and 17:9. The fight was described as "frenetic" and saw a change in strategy by González, who attempted to pressure the offensive. Immediately afterwards, both pugilists competed in a third contest as part of the first Juan Evangelista Venegas Olympic Cup. This event was organized by the Olympic Committee of Puerto Rico (COPUR), serving as the final qualifier to determine who would enter Puerto Rico’s national team in preparation for the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships