Elwin Soto vs. Jonathan Gonzalez | DAZN - October 16, 2021

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Elwin Soto, Jonathan Gonzalez Reach Terms For WBO Title Fight, Eyed For September 18 In U.S.

Elwin Soto and Jonathan 'Bomba' Gonzalez will move forward with their title fight after all.

Terms were reached by both sides, thus avoiding a purse bid hearing previously scheduled to have taken place Monday from World Boxing Organization (WBO) headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Please be advised that All Star Boxing, Inc. (Gonzalez’s promoter) and Matchroom Boxing (Soto’s promoter) have reached an agreement regarding [the] WBO Jr. Flyweight Championship Bout [between] Soto [and] Gonzalez,” Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel, president of the WBO announced Monday. “Therefore, the purse bid scheduled for today is canceled.

“Terms and conditions to be announced by each promoter.”

Neither promoter has yet revealed such plans. Efforts to contact Eddie Hearn, Soto’s promoter went unreturned as this goes to publish. However, BS.com has learned that plans are in place to stage the bout on a September 18 show in the United States.

Soto (19-1, 13KOs) will make the third defense of the WBO junior flyweight title he claimed in a twelfth-round stoppage of Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta in June 2019. In his most recent start, Mexicali’s Soto scored a ninth-round stoppage of former strawweight titlist Katsunari Takayama this past May. The bout served in supporting capacity to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s three-belt unifying eighth-round stoppage of England’s Billy Joe Saunders at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Soon thereafter came talks of Soto unifying with WBA champ Hiroto Kyoguchi. The sanctioning bodies intervened before such a fight could be finalized, with Kyoguchi ordered to face Esteban Bermudez in a title consolidation clash.

The decision made by Soto and his team to move forward with the ordered mandatory will mean a second career title fight for Gonzalez (24-3-1, 14KOs). The 30-year-old southpaw from Caguas, Puerto Rico dropped a seventh-round stoppage loss to then-unbeaten WBO flyweight titlist Kosei Tanaka in August 2019 on the road in Nagoya, Japan. Gonzalez was ahead on two of the three cards and holding his own against one of the sport’s best before falling apart in the seventh round.

The performance was inspiring, although also serving as a reminder that he was better served dropping down in weight, where he has won his last two starts. A February 2020 ten-round win over former title challenger Saul ‘Baby’ Juarez elevated Gonzalez to the top contender slot, having since added a fourth-round stoppage of Armando Torres this past May in Tampa, Florida.

The title fight between Soto and Gonzalez was originally ordered on July 9, with a 20-day negotiation period to work out terms. Little progress was made in the way of satisfying the WBO, who ordered an official Status Updated To Negotiations upon the 20-day deadline, with both sides given 48 hours to provide the WBO with cause to stand down from ordering a purse bid.

With no such updated provided by either side, the sanctioning body moved forward with its plans for a purse bid hearing. For now, that is no longer necessary.

[margaret thatcher]

well that's poopy it isnt soto vs kyoguchi

[Ruthless-RKO]

well that's poopy it isnt soto vs kyoguchi

Likely, after this.

Stupid mandatories.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Elwin Soto-Jonathan Gonzalez Awaits New Date, No Longer in Play For September 18

Elwin Soto will have to wait a few more weeks for his next title defense.

The reigning WBO junior flyweight beltholder from Mexicali remains in training camp for his ordered clash with mandatory challenger Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez, though their respective schedules will have to be altered. BS.com has learned that their bout will no longer take place on September 18 as once suggested.

An official reason for the delay was not made available. Eddie Hearn, Soto’s promoter and chairman of Matchroom Boxing did not respond to an inquiry seeking comment. Gonzalez’s team was not in a position to comment as the fight was never formally announced beyond declaration of an agreement being reached as to avoid a pending purse bid hearing.

Soto (19-1, 13KOs) is due to make the third defense of his title that he has held since June 2019. The reign began with a come-from-behind twelfth-round knockout of San Juan’s Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta, going on to score wins over Edward Heno and—in his most recent start this past May—former strawweight titlist Katsunari Takayama, coming shortly after Soto signed a promotional agreement with Matchroom.

Gonzalez (24-3-1, 14KOs) is a former flyweight title challenger now campaigning at junior flyweight. The 30-year-old southpaw from Caguas, Puerto Rico held his own for six rounds versus then-unbeaten three-division titlist Kosei Tanaka, leading on two cards before falling apart in the fateful seventh round of their August 2019 WBO flyweight title fight in Nagoya, Japan.

Two wins have followed, both coming at junior flyweight. Gonzalez was named as the mandatory challenger to Soto’s title following a points win over former title challenger Saul ‘Baby’ Juarez last February. He has since added a fourth-round stoppage of Armando Torres this past May in Tampa, Florida.

Soto-Gonzalez was first ordered on July 9, with the two sides given twenty (20) days to work out terms. The WBO had to get involved after not hearing from either party, ultimately ordering a purse bid hearing before canceling the session once an agreement was reached.

The fight was due to take place on a planned September 18 show which no longer appears to make its way to the schedule. Rumored to have headlined the card was former four-division titlist Mikey Garcia versus an opponent to be named. Another fight discussed for the show was unified WBA/IBF junior featherweight titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev (9-0, 7KOs) in a mandatory defense versus Ronny Rios. That fight fell through after Akhmadaliev tested positive for Covid, as previously reported by ‘The 3 Knockdown Rule’ podcast co-host Steve Kim.

Soto previously eyed a title unification bout with WBA “Super” champion Hiroto Kyoguchi, who also signed with Matchroom Boxing late in 2020 and who debuted under the company’s banner this past March. The proposed two-belt title fight fell apart once both were saddled with mandatory title defenses. Kyoguchi will likely move forward with a title consolidation clash with WBA “World” junior flyweight titlist Esteban Bermudez before he and Soto can revisit plans to unify, though a firm date has yet to be attached to the WBA title fight.

A rescheduled date in October likely awaits Soto-Gonzalez. Matchroom Boxing is currently working on plans to put together a show for October 16, while ESPN Deportes’ Salvador ‘Chava’ Rodriguez reported the possibility of an October 2 card also in the works, with both shows to air live on DAZN.

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Press Release

Mikey Garcia returns to action on October 16 as he takes on Sandor Martin at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, California, topping a stacked bill featuring two Light-Flyweight World title bouts, live worldwide on DAZN.

**TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW (SEPTEMBER 17) FROM 11AM (PT) AT TICKETS.COM**

Former four-weight World ruler Garcia (40-1 30 KOs) last stepped through the ropes in February 2020, flooring Jessie Vargas at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, en-route to a points win over his fellow Mexican-American. The 33 year old is plotting a route towards more World title glory, and the Californian fan favorite plans to put on a show at the home of the Fresno Grizzlies.

“I’m very excited to get back in the ring and give my fans another night to remember,” said Garcia. “I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on October 16 in Fresno – it’s going to be a great night of boxing.”

Martin (38-2 13 KOs) has form and activity in his favor as he makes his American debut in the biggest fight of his career. The Spaniard recorded a wide decision win over Kay Prospere in the second defense of his European Super-Lightweight in April in his Barcelona backyard, and the 28 year old will be leaving everything in the ring on what he believes is potentially a life-changing night.

“I’m so excited for this opportunity,” said Martin. “The sport of boxing brings me the chance to change my life. There will be a before and after for everyone in this fight.”

A stacked undercard in support of the main event is led by two World Light-Flyweight title fights as WBO king Elwin Soto puts his crown on the line against Jonathan Gonzalez and WBA champion Esteban Bermudez defends his strap against Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

Soto (19-1 13 KOs) entertained a packed crowd at AT&T Stadium on Cinco de Mayo weekend, stopping Katsunari Takayama in the ninth round of their clash on the undercard of Soto’s fellow Mexican star Canelo Alvarez’s clash with Billy Joe Saunders. That was a third successful defense for the 25 year old and the first inside the distance of the belt he ripped from Angel Acosta with a dramatic final round KO over the Puerto Rican in June 2019, and he makes his fourth defense on October 16 against Gonzalez in a bout in association with Zanfer Promotions.

It’s another Puerto Rican foe in Soto’s way in Fresno in the shape of mandatory challenger Gonzalez (22-3-1 13 KOs). The 30 year old is in his second World title tilt having travelled to Japan in August 2019 to face WBO Flyweight king Kosei Tanaka and the successful amateur landed the WBO NABO belt at Light-Fly in February 2020 and defended it with a fourth round KO of Armando Torres in May to land his mandatory status.

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring and defend my title,” said Soto. “Texas was a great night and I think this will be too. Gonzalez is a proud Puerto Rican contender, and we all know that when Mexico and Puerto Rico step through the ropes, there are fireworks, so the fans are going to love this fight.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time,” said Gonzalez. “Soto’s style fits me perfectly. It will be a war of Puerto Rico vs. Mexico.”

Bermudez (14-3-2 10 KOs) ripped the WBA strap from Carlos Canizales in May, stopping the defending champion in Mexico City inside six rounds in what was the Mexican’s first World title fight. The 25 year old faces a formidable test in the first defense of his crown against rising Texas talent Rodriguez.

Rodriguez (13-0 9 KOs) is one of American boxing’s bright young stars, and the 21 year old Texan gets his first World title shot in Fresno. Trained by Robert Garcia, Rodriguez will be aiming to emulate his WBA World Super-Flyweight champion brother Joshua Franco and bring more hardware back to San Antonio.

“This is going to be a great fight,” said Bermudez. “Jesse is a really talented fighter, and I am sure that he will be in great shape and ready to rock on October 16, but I worked too hard to become World champion to let it go in my first defense, so this will be a war.”

“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for my whole life,” said Rodriguez. “First of all, I want to thank everybody at Matchroom, Robert and Mikey Garcia, Mr. Honda, my father and everybody at RGBA for supporting me since day one. I also want to thank Bermudez for giving me the opportunity to fight for his title.

“I know it won’t be an easy fight, but I plan on walking out of the ring October 16 as the new World champion and bring the title home to San Antonio. It will be an honor for me and my brother Joshua to be World champions at the same time. I am training very hard and promise I won’t disappoint anybody.”

“I am really looking forward to getting back to the States with a cracking card in Fresno,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “It’s great to see Mikey back in the ring, a future hall of fame star that always makes for entertaining fights and is hunting his next World title target – but this is a massive opportunity for Sandor and one that he will be desperate to take with both hands.

“We have two fantastic World title fights in the always exciting Light-Flyweight division with WBO champion Elwin Soto and WBA champion Esteban Bermudez putting their belts on the line against Jonathan Gonzalez and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez respectively – Fresno fight fans are in for a real treat on October 16.”

“It’s an honor to work with Matchroom and Mikey Garcia on this night,” said promoter Rick Mirigian, who is working with Matchroom on the event. “October 16 will be a night no-one will forget here in Fresno; I promise you that.”

Further undercard fights will be announced before tomorrows on sale launch.

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Fight Week!!

[handsofstone]

I like the look of Soto, good puncher for a little 'un , had a great fight with Takayama last time which was ruined by Laurence Cole stepping in for absolutely fvck all, still Soto did look good, Gonzalez challenged for World Flyweight title, stopped in 7 by Tanaka, interesting fight, he should be bigger man, might trouble Soto but you'd have to fancy Soto for the win