by James Slater: The big fight card taking place in The Cayman Islands on June 20th is shaping up as a good night of boxing. Not only will super-middleweight prospects Andre Ward and Jerson Ravelo meet, but heavyweight contenders Eddie Chambers and Raphael Butler will also collide. In addition to these two fights, the card will also see the return of former world champion Wayne McCullough and, if this were not enough action, Ronald Hearns will be fighting also. A value for money card put on by Goossen Tutor to be sure..
With regards to “The Chosen One,” Ronald Hearns, the unbeaten light-middleweight talent at last takes a step up in class in his pro career on the 20th. Not a huge step up, but a step up nonetheless. The 18-0(14) son of the legendary Tommy Hearns will face the 12-3-1(10) Jose Luis Gonzalez of Kansas. Now 29-years-of-age, Hearns will be meeting a fighter who is both young and ambitious. As such, the 26-year-old Gonzalez will be presenting Hearns with his potentially toughest fight yet.
Never stopped in his 16 pro fights, Gonzalez is a capable fighter who has been in with good men such as the unbeaten Jason LeHoullier (getting a draw some felt he’d won). Gonzalez has also lost on points to Carson Jones twice and has an early career points loss that came in just his second fight. So, no, Gonzalez hasn’t exactly defeated any world beaters, but he is a young fighter who still believes his best days are ahead of him. A win over the highly touted Ronald Hearns would propel the 26-year-old to where he wants to go. The fighter who chose to keep the great boxing name of Hearns alive had better be ready for a live opponent.
Hearns, who turned pro in 2004, the same year as Gonzalez, has been guided carefully thus far. In winning his 18 fights, the 29-year-old has appeared on some big cards, but never against anyone many expected to beat him. Ronald has looked good, however. Both fast and powerful, “The Chosen One” has succeeded in conjuring up memories of his fabulous father’s peak years. Hearns Junior has definitely inherited his Dad’s physique and boxing grace – if not quite his numbing power. Ronald can bang himself, but so far he hasn’t come close to providing the chilling KO’s Tommy gave us. Naturally, this cannot be held against the young up-and-comer.
Making a name for himself in his own right, Ronald Hearns, if he can become the first to stop the durable Gonzalez on June 20th, will have collected his first meaningful KO.