By: Sean Crose
“I don’t dodge no person,” featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez instructed FightHype within the lead as much as Saturday’s match towards Isaac Dogboe. “There’s loads of fighters on the market, they begin demanding some fights they usually don’t even combat. They combat punching baggage, you understand, simple paychecks, however me, I’m right here combating the most effective high guys, guys who’re ranked up there fairly excessive. I’ll combat whoever, at any time when.” After dropping a unanimous determination to Emanuel Navarette final fall, the Los Angeles based mostly Gonzalez is seeking to get one other shot at a serious title.
First, although, he’ll must get previous Dogboe in Saturday’s scheduled 10 rounder. “Dogboe likes to return ahead,” Gonzalez stated within the interview. “He desires to go to warfare, however currently there’s been little adjustments in his combating model. He’s considering slightly bit extra, he’s utilizing his jab, he’s taking his time.” With the rugged and thrilling Dogboe having moved up from tremendous bantamweight to featherweight a number of years in the past, Gonzalez appears like he’ll have a good measurement benefit strolling in. “My peak, my attain, I feel these are two massive components on this combat,” Gonzalez stated.
Not that he expects Dogboe to be simple pickings. “I anticipate an excellent Dogboe,” stated Gonzalez, “a robust Dogboe, however I feel I’m simply going to be smarter in there than him. I feel I’m going to be faster. I feel I’m going to be stronger bodily, and mentally extra ready than him, and I feel I do make it look simple.” Gonzalez was requested what he considered Navarette probably combating Shakur Stevenson, the one different man to have overwhelmed Gonzalez in Gonzalez’ 27 combat profession.
“He is aware of what he’s doing in there,” Gonzalez stated of Navarette. “I might give the benefit in velocity to Shakur, however the energy undoubtedly to Navarette.” For the time being, nevertheless, Gonzalez goes to maintain centered on the 23-2 former world champion Dogboe, and for good purpose. The winner of their match would be the WBO obligatory. The winner may even be putting distance away from a WBC world title shot. With Navarette holding the WBO belt, a rematch is an attractive prospect for Gonzalez, who battled Navarette tooth and nail of their 2021 battle. “I waited slightly too lengthy,” Gonzalez stated of his hesitance in that combat.
“It’s robust,” he says of the present state of affairs. “There’s loads of politics concerned. I can solely hope for the most effective. I’m hoping I’m obligatory for WBC and WBO, however I’ll combat any of the champions proper now.” The Gonzalez-Dogboe combat might be aired reside from Hinckley, Minnesota’s Grand On line casino Saturday evening on ESPN+ beginning at 9 PM Japanese Time.
