Gonzalez, Salgado Put Belts At Risk Tonight In Mexico

The Grand Oasis Resort in Cancun, Mexico hosts a big night of fights this evening with two world titles on the line.

Big punching featherweight Jhonny Gonzalez, 51-7 (45), meets Elio Rojas, 23-1 (14), in what should turn out to be a barnburner for as long as it lasts.

A former WBO bantamweight champ, Gonzalez failed to win a world title at super bantam but struck gold at featherweight with an IBO title win against Jackson Asiku in 2010 before annexing the WBC crown with a shocking four round dismantlement of Hozumi Hasegawa in Tokyo in 2011.

The busy banger from Mexico City turned away challengers Tomas Villa, Rogers Mtagwa, Roinet Caballero later that year and will be making his first appearance of 2012 when the bell rings this evening in Cancun.

Rojas, originally from the Dominican Republic but now residing in the US, held the WBC feather strap from 2009-2010, winning the title in Tokyo from Takahiro Ao before posting a wide points verdict over Guty Espadas Jr seven months later.

Rojas never lost the title in the ring and will no doubt be looking to stake his claim to Gonzalez’s green belt.

This is an interesting clash for several reasons; it is unusual that Gonzalez will be facing an opponent that he doesn’t have a reach and height advantage over and Rojas, a featherweight his entire career, will likely be the stronger man in the ring as Gonzalez turned pro as a flyweight.

But can Rojas take the hard shots of Gonzalez, a veteran with a high KO percentage against seasoned opposition?

That is the question and if Rojas isn’t dissuaded by Gonzalez’s power, we could see a new champion crowned tonight.

Also on the bill, IBF super feather boss Juan Carlos Salgado, 24-1-1 (16), will be looking to notch his first defense after an abortive attempt last December with a No Contest against Miguel Beltran Jr after only two rounds of combat.

Salgado, a former WBA beltholder, won the vacant IBF title in September by outpointing Argenis Mendoza but had to climb off the canvas in the 12th round and will have to be very careful tonight against veteran opponent Martin Honorio, 32-6-1 (16), in an all-Mexico City tussle.

Honorio, who has held regional straps at feather, super feather and even lightweight, will be looking for his first world title win after suffering a first round KO loss to Robert Guerrero for the IBF feather crown in 2007.

“El Brochas” won the opportunity to face Salgado by going to The Philippines and pulling out a split decision verdict over Thailand’s longtime IBF Pan Pacific king Fahsai Sakkreerin but will have to put on an even better performance if he is to walk out of the Grand Oasis with the IBF belt around his waist.

37 year old former WBO bantam supremo Cruz Carbajal, 32-18-2 (26), is also featured on tonight’s card as the big punching Veracruz man meets hammer-fisted 19 year old prospect Julio Ceja, 18-0 (17), in a fight that should not last the distance.