According to Fan Base Promotions, former IBF/NABF Super Middleweight Champion Jesus “EL Martillo” Gonzales (27-2-0) will not fight in Arizona on August 3 as previously announced. Instead, the 27-year-old Arizona Native will take on Elvin Ayala (25-5-1) July 21 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. Ayala resides in nearby New Haven, Connecticut. The middleweight headliner contest is scheduled for 10 rounds;but, it isn’t televised.
The change of time, date, venue and opponent came as a result of Gonzales’ difficulty in finding a trainer. Fan Base asked that the name of the new trainer be withheld until the former champ reports for training in Las Vegas, Nevada. If Gonzales fails to report, presumably the bout is off and Fan Base will start a new search to find a suitable foe. It can be told that the “presumptive” trainer is a veteran with a sound resume and a recognizable name in the world boxing community. Gonzales has been clamoring for a name trainer for years and now he apparently has one. The onetime Top Rank Protege dumped his last trainer almost a year ago
This is a crossroads fight for Gonzales whose last fight resulted in a 1st round knockout loss at the hands of Haitian “Bad Boy” Adonis “Superman” Stevenson. Gonzales hopes his return as a middleweight will increase his ring speed and add power to his punch; something that was missing in most of his super middleweight fights.
Gonzales should be able to beat the 31 year old Ayala if his head is screwed on straight and his body is fit…..a defeat could spell the end of a career for a very popular and once promising boxer.
