Jose Gonzalez vs. Florentino Fernandez (1st meeting)
Florentino Fernandez 159 lbs lost to Jose Gonzalez 161 lbs by TKO at 2:25 in round 8 of 10
- Date: 1964-05-29
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
- Referee: Arthur Mercante
Pre-fight comment
- "Although Fernandez does not come from Puerto Rico, a Puerto Rican promoter has indirectly offered me a $100,000 purse to defend against Fernandez in San Juan if Fernandez wins impressively tonight. And I'm wide open for a defense in August or September." -Joey Giardello
"Jose Gonzalez battered the favored knockout contender Florentino Fernandez into a bloody mess Friday night and scored an upset TKO at 2:25 of the 8th round. Fernandez, a left-hooking specialist who was campaigning for a shot at Joey Giardello's middleweight crown, was favored at 11-5 to win their nationally televised fight in MSG. But the younger Gonzalez cut Florentino's left brow in the 3rd round, gashed his right brow in the 6th and opened the left brow again in the 7th. After Dr. Samuel Swetnick had twice visited Fernandez in his corner, Referee Arthur Mercante stopped the fight in the 8th round because he said, "Fernandez' left eye was bleeding so badly he couldn't see out of it." -United Press International
- Fernandez claimed that his cuts were caused by butts.
- Referee Arthur Mercante penalized Gonzalez for 'heeling' and 'lacing' Fernandez in the 7th round, which he awarded to Fernandez due to the foul.
Post fight comment
- "I've beaten 'Hurricane' Carter, Joey Archer, Joe DeNucci and now Fernandez. Sure I want Giardello now. Why not? Who deserves it more?" -Jose Gonzalez