Jonathan González Ortiz (born April 24, 1991) is a Puerto Rican professional boxer who has held the WBO junior flyweight title since 2021. As an amateur, González won gold medals at the 2008 Youth World Championships and the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, both at flyweight.
González debuted as a professional in January 2011, going on to win his first title in his ninth fight, defeating Erickson Martell to earn the interim WBO flyweight Youth title.
Personal life
González was introduced to boxing at age four by his father, Luis González, who was a pugilist himself, having won Golden Glove awards in 1980 and 1982. When he was four years old, he began training along his progenitor. González's mother died during his youth. After entering competitive circuits, he began dedicating some of his biggest wins to her. González trained in Orlando Piñeiro's gymnasium, often sparring with both amateurs and professionals. In November 2008, Piñeiro emphasized the dedication that the pugilist invested during workouts, claiming that as an amateur, he had been able to knockout professionals adversaries during sparring.
Amateur career
AIBA Youth World Championship and national titles
In 2008, González won Puerto Rico's youth national championship. González's first senior competition was the XI José "Cheo" Aponte Tournament, which began on May 20, 2008. Where he lost to Pan American medallist, Juan Carlos Payano, in the quarterfinals by scores of 16:14. On October 29, 2008, González debuted in the International Boxing Association's Youth World Championships. In his first contest, he defeated Kyle Freiberg of Australia by points, 10:0. On October 30, 2008, González was paired against Welbeth Loberanis of the Philippines, winning 18:5. In the third date, he competed against Almas Zhakipov of Kazakhstan, winning his closest decision of the tournament, 14:11. In the semifinals, González defeated Adam López of the United States, 11:5. With this performance, he advanced to the finals, facing the winner of the other branch, Yuniel Robles of Cuba. González won the Youth World Championship against Robles, defeating him with scores of 12:5. With this victory, he joined John John Molina, Aníbal Santiago Acevedo, Carlos Febres and Daniel Alicea as Puerto Rican gold medalists in this competition. Upon returning to Puerto Rico, González was surprised to encounter a large welcoming ceremony, which included the presence of his stablemate Juan Manuel López. His next competition was the Torneo Nacional de Boxeo Aficionado Isaac Barrientos, Puerto Rico's national championship tournament. The semifinals took place on February 21, 2009, where González defeated Carlos Narváez (8:5) to advance. In the finals, he was matched against Pan American and Central American champion, McWilliams Arroyo. Early in the contest, González was able to use his speed and counterattack to establish control of the fight’s tempo, winning the first round 3:0. This pattern continued in the next stanza, where he was able to score six more points, including three in only eighteen seconds, before his opponent scored his first point. Arroyo attempted to pressure the fight on the third, reducing the difference to 9:4, before González had one final advance, securing the final score of 11:5. Following this competition, he served as a sparring partner for Juan Manuel López, who was preparing for a defense against Gerry Peñalosa. The pugilist was selected due to his speed.