32 MARCH 15, 2018 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
SPORTS
Ridgewood boxer signs contract and gets huge win
The referee declares Mathew Gonzalez the winner by technical knockout at a March 10 fi ght at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn.
BY RYAN KELLEY
RKELLEY@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
TWITTER @R_KELLEY6
Ridgewood boxer Mathew “Left y
Gunz” Gonzalez took his young
career to new heights over
the weekend, when he continued his
undefeated streak and signed a promotional
deal with one of the sport’s most
recognizable names.
At the weigh-in for his latest bout
on March 9, Gonzalez inked a 10-fi ght
contract with The Real Deal Boxing,
founded in 2017 by four-time heavyweight
champion Evander Holyfi eld.
The deal will help launch Gonzalez’s
career by getting him fi ghts in large
venues, continued media coverage,
world class training and nutritional
advice, said Jenny Badillo, owner of
International Boxing & Fitness Club
in Ridgewood where Gonzalez trains.
“We’re really excited,” Badillo said.
“We started independently, with self
management, self advisement and in
less than a year we got him signed and
in big venue fi ghts.”
The next night, Gonzalez dominated
in his March 10 debut at the Kings
Theater in Brooklyn against Elliott
Brown from Erie, Pennsylvania. In
the second round as time was winding
down, Gonzalez landed a straight left
hand to the jawline of his opponent a
few seconds before the bell. When the
third round was about to begin, Brown
couldn’t get off his stool.
Photo via International Boxing and Fitness Club on Instagram
Badillo said they later found out that
Brown’s jaw was broken.
With the second-round technical
knockout (TKO), Gonzalez improved his
professional record to 4-0 with three of
those wins coming by way of knockout.
Aft er fi ghting in New York for the
fi rst time as a professional at the Barclays
Center in January, Gonzalez said
he was able to be a little more relaxed
heading into his March 10 fi ght. The
Kings Theater, a much smaller stage,
will become his “new home” for at least
his next three fi ghts, Gonzalez said.
“I was able to take my time and
work on my jab to break my opponent
down,” Gonzalez said. “Last time at
the Barclays Center, I was a little too
over-anxious, I got sloppy at times. But
this time I stayed poised, stayed calm
and got the job done.”
Looking forward to his next fight,
Gonzalez said the biggest difference after
signing with The Real Deal will be the
resources at his disposal. With the backing
of a professional promotions team,
Gonzalez and Badillo won’t have to worry
about selling tickets or wonder when
Lefty Gunz can get on another fight card.
“I don’t have to look around and try
to talk to other promotion companies
and try to get on their card,” Gonzalez
said. “All I have to do is worry about
the fi ght and getting better each and
every go around.”
Gonzalez will look to remain undefeated
when he fi ghts again at the
Kings Theater on April 21.
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