Born October 3, 1984 in Phoenix Arizona, Gonzales took up boxing at age 8 after his dad gave him a pair of boxing gloves. Gonzales was a boxing star before he was 12 years old…winning tournament after tournament; victorious an estimated 90-95% of his fights, most by knockouts.
His father estimates his son fought at least 200 fights before he reached 17 years of age. Gonzales honed his skills well enough to be a recipient of a highly decorated amateur career which includes wins over current WBA World Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward, WBO Light Middleweight Champion Alfredo Angulo, IBA Intercontinental Light Middleweight Champion Sechewn Powell and an astonishing four wins over former WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto.
Also, Jesus was a multiple time winner in the Silver and Copper Glove tournament competition and in 2002 , El Martillo”-English translation: The Hammer, won the National Boxing Championship in the middleweight division.
Widely considered to be America’s top medal contender for the 2004 Olympic Games, his legion of fans were stunned when he decided to bypass the games and turn pro at age 18. His decision was influenced by the uncertainty of Olympic judging and an offer by Top Rank CEO and Boxing Icon Bob Arum that he couldn’t refuse, $250,000.00 to sign. Over the next two years Gonzales fought 17 times including two of the fastest knockouts in the history of boxing: 16 seconds over Josh Peters and a 17 seconds KO over Bobby Green while running running his record to 17-0 and hearing whispers that he could be the next Oscar de la Hoya.
On September 17, 2005 Gonzales fought Jose Luis Zertuche for the vacant IBC Middleweight Title at America West Arena in Phoenix, his hometown. . Unfortunately, El Martillo broke his right hand in the first round and became no match for Zertuche who knew he was fighting a one handed boxer and began to hammer the courageous Gonzales. The fight was stopped at 2:02 into round 8. A dejected El Martillo fought back tears on his way to his dressing room. After cleaning up, he told members of the media that he should have won even though his right hand was rendered useless.
It was almost a year, after his crushing defeat, before he returned to doing what he he does best: boxing. His record now stands at 27-1 after defeating a much bigger Francisco Sierra (12 round UD) to win the NABF Super Middleweight Title on July 8 at the US Airways Center (formerly known as America West Arena) in Phoenix, Arizona. The Championship bout was televised on on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights and more than 5,000 fans left their homes to watch the main event live. According to ESPN , the show was one of three highest rated shows of the season. It was a memorable evening of boxing for his fans who (after the victory) left their seats to greet and meet their hero. . He spent at least an hour signing autographs before he allowed a doctor to care for his wounds.
Jesus Gonzales is married and the father of two children. He attended and graduated from Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix and later took courses at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona. Earlier this year, (2011) Jesus, aka Ernie, was honored by the Phoenix Vice Mayor Thelda Williams and the Phoenix City Council for his work in the community with kids and cancer patients. One of his Good Samaritan efforts enabled a cancer patient (a mother of two teenagers) to receive a life enhancing machine that was previously denied 3 times her by her insurance carrier. Gonzales and a group of volunteers known as “Team Erin” were relentless in their effort to help Erin Goodwin. She was at the Sierra fight. and her health is much improved.
His goal in boxing is to become a world Champion like 5 time world Champ Michael Carbajal and fellow World Champion Louie Espinoza; both former Champions are from Arizona. Jesus could make it 3 for the cactus state if one of the reigning Super Middleweight champions decide to take on the 27 year old Gonzales…it has been a long wait.
