Call it the ProBox TV bump. Junior middleweight Johan Gonzalez is the latest fighter to rebuild his career on the Wednesday Night Fights series, joining the ranks of notable boxers such as IBF featherweight titleholder Angelo Leo, super middleweight Trevor McCumby, and featherweight Ronny Rios.
Gonzalez is set to face undefeated Cuban prospect Yoenis Tellez as part of the PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video card Saturday, October 19, live from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Gonzalez, 35-3 (34 KOs), a 33-year-old Venezuelan power puncher, revitalized his career with a knockout victory over Ricardo Ruben Villalba in August 2023, followed by a majority decision win against Guido Emmanuel Schramm. Both bouts were featured on ProBox TV’s Wednesday Night Fights. However, Gonzalez’s journey hit a setback when he faced top contender Jesus Ramos Jr, suffering a ninth-round technical knockout loss. Since then, he has bounced back with a second-round stoppage win over Ivan Herrera in a tune-up fight and is eager to prove he is not defined by his loss to Ramos.
“It means a lot for me to be in this position,” Gonzalez said. “I want to show everyone that I’ve improved since the fight with Jesus Ramos, and I’ll show it against Tellez.”
Gonzalez emphasized that he has made significant improvements and that Tellez is mistaken if he expects the same fighter he saw against Ramos.
“Everyone watching is going to see a better Johan Gonzalez,” he said. “I’m going to be aggressive like I always am, but I’ve also added some new things that everyone is going to see on October 19.”
Tellez, 8-0 (6 KOs), is known for his punching power, with his only fight in 2024 being a unanimous decision victory over Joseph Jackson. However, his viral 10th-round knockout of Livan Navarro in December showcased the power the 24-year-old Cuban Tellez possesses. The prospect of facing a formidable opponent like Tellez excites Gonzalez, reflecting the mindset that comes from competing on ProBox TV circuit – fighting competitive bouts which prepare fighters for the big stage one day.
“We wanted to get right back into the ring after my recent win and keep pushing toward big fights like this,” Gonzalez said. “That’s the mindset of my team, and that’s what we’re looking to show on October 19.”
