Jonathan González (flyweight)

Jonathan González (born April 24, 1991) is a Puerto Rican boxer. He learned the sport from his father, practicing it since the age of four. As an amateur, González has represented Puerto Rico at numerous international events, while competing in the flyweight limit of 51 kg (112 lb). On November 1, 2008, González won his first major tournament, dominating the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) Youth World Championship in his category. He subsequently competed in the Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos, defeating McWilliams Arroyo, in the finals to win the senior national title. The 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games were his final amateur tournament, in which he won the gold medal.
González debuted as a professional in January 2011, going on to win his first title in his ninth fight, defeating Erickson Martell to earn the World Boxing Organization's Interim Flyweight Youth World Championship.

González was introduced to boxing 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.

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. The first two rounds concluded with a close score of 5:4, which favored Arroyo. In the third round, González connected a right hook and scored a knockdown. Arroyo stood up while still affected by the punch and was forced to receive a protective count following another offensive barrage. With the score favoring him by two points 7:5, González scored three more times, while Arroyo was only able to do so once, securing a final score of 10:6. In his next contest, he lost an unexpected decision to Carlos Ortíz. When the Federación de Boxeo Aficionado de Puerto Rico (lit. "Amateur Boxing Federation of Puerto Rico") selected Arroyo to participate in the World Amateur Boxing Championships, González openly expressed disappointment and briefly considered becoming a professional.

In February 2010, González entered the 2010 Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos to defend the flyweight national championship. On his first date, he defeated Kidany Reyes by walkover, advancing to the finals while an eliminatory was held on the other bracket. 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. In the semifinals he defeated Julião Neto of Brasil (6:2). González won the event, defeating fellow Puerto Rican Edwin Rodríguez, five points to none. This result guaranteed his inclusion in the national team. Puerto Rico participated in the Campeonato Panamericano Elite in Ecuador, using it as a preparatory for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. González won his first match against the contestant of the Dominican Republic, but lost a close decision (5:6) in a rematch against Neto at the semifinals. At the Central American and Caribbean Games, he received a bye at the first day of preliminaries. In his debut, González defeated William Alcantara of the Dominican Republic by points (18:8) to secure a medal. In the semifinals, he advanced by defeating (8:3) Dexter Jordan of Guyana.

In the finals, González fought Ceiber Ávila, opening the first round ahead 6:1. Ávila was frustrated by this disadvantage, connecting a low blow that cost him two points. González continued aggressive to close the third round, finishing with scores of 19:5 to secure the gold medal. His final amateur contest took place in December 2010, where he defeated Adam López (7:1) of the United States as part of a dual.

González's amateur contract expired in January 2011, and he did not participate in the national championship held concurrently. After brief negotiations to sign an extension, he decided to accept a professional offer made by PR Best Boxing and Top Rank, closing his amateur career. González debuted on April 1, 2011, defeating an opponent that shared his name by technical knockout in one round. His second contest took place two weeks after against Elvin Caldero, concluding in the same fashion. On March 10, 2012, González competed in his first titular match, defeating Erickson Martell bybtechnical knockout in two rounds, with the contest being stopped following two knockdowns, to win the World Boxing Organization's Interim Flyweight Youth Championship.