Boxing In Puerto Rico: Quartet Of Prospects Score KO’s In Ponce

ByBoxing Press

Four of Puerto Rico’s most promising young fighters were victorious on Friday night in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez, Thomas Dulorme, Jose Pedraza and Luis Orlando del Valle all kept their unbeaten records intact with intimidating displays of power.

Making his junior lightweight pro debut, highly touted former Olympian Jose Pedraza destroyed Felix Manuel Rivera in 1:24 of the first round. Pedraza began his journey to a world championship by overwhelming his opponent in impressive fashion.

Despite Rivera’s solid amateur pedigree (he was 86-5), Pedraza’s forceful combinations and thudding body shots quickly had him down and in need of rescue.

The formidable Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez brought his record to a perfect 12-0 with 12 KOs by stopping West Virginia veteran Chad Greenleaf in the first round.

Few 154-lb fighters in the world can withstand Gonzalez’s brutality and Greenleaf was no exception. Precise volleys of cannon fire to the head and body had Greenleaf in need of saving by referee Luis Pabon at 2:49.

Adopted Puerto Rican via the Caribbean welterweight, Thomas “The French” Dulorme (9-0, 8 KOs), needed just two rounds to dismantle opponent Jorge Delgado. A tough Pennsylvanian, Delgado had not been stopped since 2003 before running into Dulorme’s pulverizing fists.

And the newest member of the team, Luis Orlando del Valle, moved to 12-0, 10 KOs by stopping fellow Puerto Rican Irvin Hernandez at 2:49 of round six. Del Valle is the New York State Featherweight Champion and a threat to someday overtake Juan Manuel Lopez as the boxing-rich island’s top featherweight.

Puerto Rico’s Jorge Maysonet Jr (1-0, 1 KO) had his opponent fall out at the last minute and will instead fight next week.

Gary Shaw Productions, DiBella Entertainment, Warriors Boxing and Universal Promotions are putting together a team of elite Puerto Rican boxing talent. With the combined backing of four of the sport’s most well-known and prominent promoters, the team’s members will be developed and groomed into the sport’s top world champions.