[Previous entry: "Godfrey vows to clean-up New England"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Ricardo Castillo vs. Edel Ruiz in Main, "Macho" Miguel Hernandez vs. Shay Mobley in Co-Main at Aragon Ballroom January 14th!"]
12/30/2004 Archived Entry: "Al Gonzales Hired by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. as Sparring Partner!"
Al Gonzales Hired by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. as Sparring Partner!
By Juan C. Ayllon
Gonzales (L) unloads on Ortega in his last bout
“Al “Speedy” Gonzales has been hired by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to be one of his sparring partners for his January 22nd fight [against Henry Bruseles]; he’ll probably spar lightly the following week.” So says Pat Doljanin, manager of exciting Chicago junior welterweight Al Gonzales.
Mayweather’s upcoming bout nearly coincides with Gonzales’ next bout, which will occur on February 4th. Asked about the timing of it all, Doljanin said, “Around the 15th or the 16th of January, he’ll probably be through with his sparring with Mayweather, then he’ll spar maybe one more week for Oscar Diaz, whom he will fight on February 4th on Sho-box.”
[During their trial sparring session] “Floyd was trying to push his buttons verbally and physically; and after 7 rounds, they decided to hire Al as a sparring partner.”
Doljanin credited his trainer, Jesse Reid, who was able to capitalize on this opportunity. “Thanks to Jesse Reid, Jesse used to train Roger [Mayweather] when he was a world champion.Jesse through his friendship with Joe Goosen was able to get Al a sparring partnership with Shane Moseley. I asked if he could set him up; you ask and he delivers!”
“Al is going to mature as a boxer and is going to do bigger and better things. That’s our hope. He’s going to be prepared better than he’s ever been for a fight; how can you train with Floyd Mayweather and not develop and be in shape? This is important because Oscar Diaz is not coming to lose.”
Al Gonzales (16-1-1, 7 KOs) will be fighting Oscar Diaz (18-1-0, 11 KOs) at the Foxwood Resort Casino in Connecticut on February 4th. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (32-0-0, 21 KOs) will face Henry Bruseles (21-2-1, 13 KOs) at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida on January 22nd.
Photo by Juan C. Ayllon
