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Another bout on Golden Boy’s Desert Diamond Casino show in Tucson, Arizona was the WBO Bantamweight title fight between reigning champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin and red hot contender Jhonny Gonzalez. The twenty four year old Mexican challenger came into the bout as the NABA titlist and had won his last sixteen contests. Vorapin was riding a nineteen fight wins streak himself and brought the experience of taking part in seventy four professional matches.
Round One: The fight begins with both fighters feeling each other out for the first thirty seconds without a punch being thrown. It is apparent from the beginning that Gonzalez is significantly taller the Vorapin. Vorapin throws the first punch of the fight thirty seconds in, a jab to the body of Gonzalez that presses Gonzales against the ropes. Gonzalez circles off the ropes quickly, but Vorapin cuts off the ring and connects with a straight right to Gonzalez’s nose. Gonzalez doesn’t look hurt and comes back with two left uppercuts, the second one connecting directly under Vorapin’s chin. Vorapin backs straight up and gets caught with a straight right that sends him stumbling. He smiles, recovers, and finishes the round on his feet. Despite the late charge, Vorapin earns the round.
Round: Vorapin 10-9
Round Two: Vorapin charges out of his corner towards Gonzalez, immediately throwing, but not landing, an overhand right. When he throws that overhand right, Vorapin squares up and puts all his weight on his front foot, leaving his chin untucked which could lead to some trouble later in the fight, as he is throwing that punch often. Even though the fight is taking place on the outside, neither fighter is making any effort to establish a jab, Gonzalez is instead choosing to throw lead left hooks. Neither fighters are throwing many punches, both opting to scout each other out before tiring themselves or committing to a game plan.
Round: Gonzalez 10-9:
Fight: Even 19-19
Round Three: Like the first round, the first thirty seconds of the third consist of absolutely no punching. During the first half of the round, the only punches thrown are the occasional Gonzalez jab, and nothing more then that. With about a minute thirty left, Gonzalez starts putting together some combinations, landing a jab followed by a straight right hand. Vorapin backs straight up, and Gonzalez charges after him landing a right uppercut that downs Vorapin. Vorapin gets up, and Gonzalez comes straight back at him and Vorapin’s knees buckle. He gets up again looking distraught and the round ends. That was a big round for Gonzalez, scoring two knockdowns.
Round: Gonzalez 10-7
Fight: Gonzalez 29-26
Round Four: Gonzalez comes right back this round and catches Vorapin with a right hook that puts him up against the ropes, and that very first punch look like it cut Vorapin. Gonzalez presses on with the attack, throwing a barrage of hooks and right uppercuts. Vorapin can’t get off the ropes and is in serious danger, but to his credit, Vorapin survives a serious scare and even manages to hurt Gonzalez at the end of the round with a straight right hand. That was Gonzalez’s round by a long shot, Vorapin would be hard pressed to survive another round like that.
Round: Gonzalez 10-9
Fight: Gonzalez 39-35
Round Five: Vorapin comes out swinging wide once again with a right hook. Vorapin is grunting every time he throws a punch, trying to end the fight with one shot. His cut looks very bad now and he seems to know he is fighting on borrowed time, pressing the attack and constantly putting power shots in Gonzalez’s face. So far, Gonzalez is managing to avoid Vorapin’s blows, mostly lead right hands that are followed up with hooks. With about ten seconds left in the round, Vorapin gets trapped back on the ropes and is hit with a big right hook that bounces his head backwards. Vorapin just looks dead tired as the bell sounded, but he won that round.
Round: Vorapin 10-9
Fight: Gonzalez 48-45
Round Six: Vorapin comes out with his right eye looking worse then ever, and it’s surprising that the fight hasn’t been stopped because of the cut. Vorapin looks very tired and Gonzalez is keeping him at distance by jabbing, and occasionally following up with a straight right. About a minute and a half through the round, Vorapin hits Gonzalez with a low blow, and Gonzalez goes down. This is giving both fighters, especially Vorapin, some much needed rest. Gonzalez recovers fairly quickly at the urging of his corner, and immediately comes back with two hooks that connect to the side of Vorapin’s head. Apparently the clock didn’t stop with the low blow, because there are only ten seconds left in the round. At the bell, Vorapin is hit with a left hook that floors him for the third time in the fight. Vorapin gets up but will probably have to produce a knockout now if he wants to win the fight.
Round: Gonzalez 10-8
Fight: Gonzalez 58-53
Round Seven: Much like as in the third round, Gonzalez catches Vorapin on the ropes after scoring a knockdown in the round before, and again tees off, hitting Vorapin with a right uppercut and two left hooks before the referee decides he has seen enough. He stops the fight. Vorapin is all heart and has gained the respect of many, but he was simply overmatched tonight.
Jhonny Gonzalez wins the bout via seventh round stoppage and takes the WBO Bantamweight crown from Ratanachai Sor Vorapin. Gonzalez sees his record go up to 31-4 (27) while Vorapin falls to 65-9 (42).
