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Jonathan Gonzalez vs. Gerardo Zapata
Light Flyweight Title Showdown This Friday
Puerto Rico’s WBO light flyweight world champion, Jonathan
“Bomba” Gonzalez, will defend his world title against
hometown favorite Gerardo Zapata this Friday, Oct. 27 at
Alexis Arguello Sports Complex in Managua, Nicaragua.
Gonzalez-Zapata and undercard bouts will stream live and
exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14 KOs) has won five bouts since falling
short to Kosei Tanaka in a 2019 bid for the WBO flyweight
world title. He then moved down to the light flyweight ranks
and positioned himself for a title shot with a pair of
victories. In October 2019, he toppled Mexican champion
Elwin Soto by split decision to capture his world title.
Gonzalez defended the WBO light flyweight twice in 2022 with
unanimous decision victories over Mark Anthony Barriaga in
Florida and Shokichi Iwata in Japan.
Zapata (14-1-1, 5 KOs), who was born in Managua, fought the
first 14 bouts of his pro career in his home country. He
lost his ‘0’ when he was controversially disqualified
against Rene Santiago in December 2022. Zapata returned in
August and was held to a 10-round draw against Panamanian
contender Azael Villar.
In other ESPN+ streaming bouts:
Rene Santiago (11-3, 8 KOs), two fights removed from the DQ
win over Zapata, will defend his WBO Latino light flyweight
title in a 10-rounder against undefeated Nicaraguan Kevin
Vivas (7-0, 2 KOs).
In a six-round female light flyweight contest, Eveling
Ortega (5-4, 2 KOs) looks to increase her winning streak to
five against Costa Rica’s Silvia Duran (3-1, 2 KOs).
Welterweight prospect Harvin “Manimal” Aguirre (8-0, 6 KOs)
steps up against Israel Lopez (11-3-1, 8 KOs) in an
eight-rounder.
Honduras-born light flyweight Gerardo Sanchez (8-1, 5 KOs)
hopes to end the unbeaten run of Peru’s Eduardo Ajito (11-0,
5 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
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