Julio César González

Julio César González Ibarra (July 30, 1976 – March 10, 2012) was a Mexican professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2011, and held the WBO and lineal light heavyweight titles from 2003 to 2004.

Julio César González
Born
Julio César González Ibarra

(1976-07-30)July 30, 1976
DiedMarch 10, 2012(2012-03-10) (aged 35)
Guerrero Negro,
Baja California Sur,
Mexico
NationalityMexican
Statistics
Weight(s)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights49
Wins41
Wins by KO25
Losses8

Amateur career

Gonzalez was a member of the 1996 Mexican Olympic team, boxing as a light heavyweight. He was eliminated in the 1st round by eventual gold medalist Vasili Jirov of Kazakhstan.[1]

Professional career

He entered the professional boxing ranks in 1997 after a moderately successful amateur career and gradually worked his way through the ranks of the light heavyweight journeymen. He had won his first 21 fights by the time he got his first chance at a boxing title, the regional WBC Fecarbox belt, on May 5, 2000. He defeated unbeaten fellow Mexican Jesus Ruiz on a ninth round technical knockout in Commerce, California.

Gonzalez followed that victory up with five more wins, including a 12-round unanimous decision over Julian Letterlough on February 2, 2001, that won him the regional NABO light heavyweight title - and propelled him into the No. 1 contender's position in several sanctioning bodies' ratings.

As the top contender, he earned a fight with WBC, WBA (Super), & IBF champion Roy Jones Jr. in July 2001, in Los Angeles. Gonzalez went the distance with Jones, but lost a unanimous decision for his first career setback.

He took seven months off after the loss to Jones before resuming his career and running off seven straight wins without a loss. Most notable in his comeback streak was a 10-round majority decision over former world champion Glen Johnson on January 24, 2003.

WBO and lineal light heavyweight champion

Gonzalez earned his second shot at a world title on October 18, 2003, when he flew to Hamburg, Germany for a showdown with undefeated Dariusz Michalczewski for the Lineal & WBO light heavyweight championship. Going into the fight, Michalczewski was positioned to tie Rocky Marciano's all-time record of 49 wins and no losses. He also was looking to extend his own world record of 23 straight successful defenses of the light heavyweight title.[2]

In the fight, Gonzalez seemed to take control of the action in the middle rounds, and fought back strongly when Michalczewski, a knockout artist, got him in trouble a few times. When the fight was over, Gonzalez got the verdict on a 12-round split decision; the judge from Germany was the lone dissenter.[3]

Gonzalez lost his title to Zsolt Erdei on January 17, 2004, by unanimous decision.

He challenged Clinton Woods for the IBF light heavyweight title on September 9, 2005, losing by unanimous decision. He met Woods again in a title fight rematch on September 29, 2007. Woods again won the fight by unanimous decision.

In 2008 he was stopped by undefeated prospect Tavoris Cloud.

Death

On March 10, 2012, Gonzalez was killed on impact in a motorcycle accident when he was hit by a drunk driver in B.C. Sur, Mexico. The Julio Gonzalez Memorial Foundation was started in his memory.[4][5]

Professional boxing record

49 fights41 wins8 losses
By knockout251
By decision167
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
49Loss41–8Felipe RomeroUD12Sep 30, 2011Gimnasio Auditorio Jorge Campos, La Paz, MexicoFor vacant WBC FECOMBOX cruiserweight title
48Loss41–7Felipe RomeroUD12Aug 7, 2010Auditorio Alvaro Aguilar, Guerrero Negro, MexicoFor Mexico cruiserweight title
47Loss41–6Tavoris CloudTKO10 (12), 1:50Aug 8, 2008Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
46Loss41–5Reggie JohnsonSD12Feb 23, 2008Sudduth Coliseum, Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.For vacant IBA light heavyweight title
45Loss41–4Clinton WoodsUD12Sep 29, 2007Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, EnglandFor IBF light heavyweight title
44Win41–3Vitaly KopytkoTKO3 (10), 2:53Nov 16, 2006HP Pavilion, San Jose, California, U.S.
43Win40–3Rodney MooreKO3 (8), 2:30Jul 20, 2006Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, California, U.S.
42Win39–3Jason DeLisleUD12Nov 17, 2005HP Pavilion, San Jose, California, U.S.
41Loss38–3Clinton WoodsUD12Sep 9, 2005Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, EnglandFor IBF light heavyweight title
40Win38–2Montell GriffinTD6 (12), 1:11May 5, 2005Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs, California, U.S.Majority TD after González was cut from an accidental head clash
39Win37–2David TelescoTKO8 (10), 1:06Dec 18, 2004Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
38Win36–2Orlando RiveraUD10May 21, 2004Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
37Loss35–2Zsolt ErdeiUD12Jan 17, 2004Dm-Arena, Karlsruhe, GermanyLost WBO and linear light heavyweight title
36Win35–1Dariusz MichalczewskiSD12Oct 18, 2003Color Line Arena, Hamburg, GermanyWon WBO and linear light heavyweight title
35Win34–1Manu NtohUD10Jun 6, 2003La Villa Real Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
34Win33–1Kenny BowmanTKO3 (10), 2:58Apr 11, 2003Sullivan Athletic Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
33Win32–1Glen JohnsonMD10Jan 24, 2003Crowne Plaza Hotel, Commerce, California, U.S.
32Win31–1Thomas ReidTKO3 (10), 2:53Oct 12, 2002Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
31Win30–1Jonathan YoungTKO9 (10), 3:00Jun 29, 2002Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
30Win29–1Joseph KiwanukaTKO7 (10)Apr 27, 2002Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
29Win28–1Tyrone ArmsteadTKO2 (10), 3:00Feb 22, 2002Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, U.S.
28Loss27–1Roy Jones Jr.UD12Jul 28, 2001Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.For WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, IBO, vacant WBF (Federation) and IBA light heavyweight titles
27Win27–0Konstantin SemerdjievRTD5 (10), 3:00Apr 8, 2001Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
26Win26–0Julian LetterloughUD12Feb 2, 2001Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Retained WBC FECARBOX light heavyweight title;
Won WBONABO and vacant IBA Continental light heavyweight titles
25Win25–0Jorge AmparoTKO5 (8), 1:00Sep 23, 2000Convention Center, Ontario, California, U.S.
24Win24–0Patrick SwannRTD4 (12), 3:00Jul 29, 2000Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC FECARBOX light heavyweight title
23Win23–0Tony MenefeeTKO4 (10), 2:50Jun 22, 2000Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
22Win22–0Jesus RuizTKO9 (12)May 5, 2000Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC FECARBOX light heavyweight title
21Win21–0Dave BooneKO5 (10)Mar 11, 2000Civic Center, Maywood, California, U.S.
20Win20–0Gary CampbellKO2 (8)Dec 3, 1999Pechanga Resert & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S.
19Win19–0Wilson SmithTKO3 (8), 1:59Oct 4, 1999Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
18Win18–0Akinobu YamamuraTKO3 (8), 1:19Jul 31, 1999Rainbow Hall, Nagoya, Japan
17Win17–0Reggie RobertsUD8Jun 21, 1999Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
16Win16–0Francisco BarraKO3 (8)May 14, 1999Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S.
15Win15–0Paul JonesKO2 (6), 0:44Mar 8, 1999Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
14Win14–0Gustavo EnriquezUD6Dec 7, 1998Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
13Win13–0Charles DavisMD6Sep 26, 1998Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
12Win12–0Derrick EdwardsUD6Jul 20, 1998Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
11Win11–0Aljenon DeBoseKO4 (6)Jul 11, 1998Long Beach, California, U.S.
10Win10–0Calvin CombsTKO5 (6)May 28, 1998Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
9Win9–0Jude AguUD6Mar 26, 1998Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
8Win8–0Nathaniel MilesUD6Feb 23, 1998Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
7Win7–0Zaire PattersonUD4Dec 8, 1997Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
6Win6–0James BrockKO2 (4)Sep 29, 1997Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
5Win5–0Charles JeffersonUD4Aug 11, 1997Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
4Win4–0Robert RiosTKO1 (4)Jun 27, 1997Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
3Win3–0James BrockKO1 (4)Jun 9, 1997Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
2Win2–0Alex FederovTKO2 (4)May 30, 1997Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
1Win1–0Alex FederovUD4Apr 7, 1997Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.

See also

References

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Rocky Torres
WBC FECARBOX
light heavyweight champion

May 5, 2000 – July 28, 2001
Lost bid for world title
Vacant
Title next held by
Francisco Sierra
Preceded by WBONABO
light heavyweight champion

February 2, 2001 – July 2001
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Demetrius Jenkins
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBO light heavyweight champion
October 18, 2003 – January 17, 2004
Succeeded by
Light heavyweight status
Preceded by Latest born world champion to die
March 10, 2012 – present
Incumbent