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.

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.

Upon returning to Puerto Rico, González was surprised to encounter a large welcoming ceremony, which included the presence of his stablemate Juan Manuel López.

[1] His next competition was the Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos, Puerto Rico's national championship tournament.

[11] In February 2010, González entered the 2010 Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos to defend the flyweight national championship.

[12] In the finals, González fought Edwin Rodríguez of Juana Díaz's Gimnasio Collores, winning the contest by points (12:3) to earn his second consecutive title.

As a member of the national pre-selection, he was entered in the XIII José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, debuting with a 10:0 victory over Jovany Camacho of Ecuador.

González fought for the WBO NABO flyweight title for the second time in his career on February 23, 2018, when he was scheduled to face Ricardo Rodriguez for the vacant belt.

González called out the WBO flyweight titleholder during his post-fight interview, stating "I believe I am capable of fighting for a world title, especially against Sho Kimura".

The bout was scheduled to take place on August 24, 2019, at the Takeda Teva Ocean Arena in Nagoya, Japan, and was González's first fight outside of the American continents.

[27][28] González's speed and southpaw stance managed to give Tanaka some trouble in the early going, before the pair traded knockdowns in the third round.

Tanaka began to take over from that point forward, and stopped González in the seventh round, knocking him down three times before the referee was forced to wave the fight away.

[33] On July 7, 2021, the World Boxing Organization ordered the reigning WBO light flyweight champion Elwin Soto to begin negotiations with mandatory challenger González.

Soto was given a final warning in the ninth round for intentionally twisting Gonzalez’s left arm during a clinch, although no points were deducted.

The title fight headlined a ProBox TV show which took place in the Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, on June 24, 2022.

[45] On September 3, however, it was announced that González would instead make his second title defense against the second-ranked WBO light flyweight contender Shokichi Iwata.

The title bout was scheduled as the co-main event of the Kenshiro Teraji and Hiroto Kyoguchi unification match, which took place on November 1.

[52] As this fight likewise fell through, González was booked to make his third title defense against the #10 ranked WBO light flyweight contender Leyman Benavides on October 27, 2023, at the Alexis Arguello Sports Complex in Managua, Nicaragua.

The card's co-main event between Rene Santiago and Kevin Vivas was promoted to an interim WBO light-flyweight clash, with the winner given assurance they would face the champion within 180 days.

[55] On November 8, the WBO ordered González to make a mandatory title defense against the recently crowned interim titlist Rene Santiago.

[57] Gonzalez defeated Rene Santiago by unanimous decision and made the third successful defense of his WBO light flyweight title.