Israel Gonzalez vs Jonathan Rodriguez Preview July 7th, 2023
Jonathan Rodriguez of Mexico takes on fellow countryman Israel Gonzalez in Monterrey in a 10-round junior bantamweight contest this Friday, July 7th. The bout can be seen live on DAZN in most nations. Rodriguez’s last fight came in September when he battled to a 10-round majority decision over Juan Ramirez Marquez while Gonzalez is coming off of a unanimous decision defeat to Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in September in a shot at the WBC Jr Bantamweight Title.
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Gonzalez vs Rodriguez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Israel Gonzalez +180
- Jonathan Rodriguez -220
My Pick
The 26-year-old Gonzalez enters the contest with a mark of 28-5-1 with 11 Ko’s. He’s boxed 207 rounds since turning pro in 2014 and has a current knockout ratio of just 32.5 per cent and has gone the distance in his last seven fights and in seven of the past eight. He stands 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 69-inch reach and has plenty of pro experience against solid opposition.
Gonzalez has had four shots at a world title as he was stopped in the 10th round by Jerwin Ancajas in 2018 in a crack at the IBF Super Flyweight Title. His other losses came against Agi Cortes via a six-round unanimous decision in 2016; to Khalid Yafai by unanimous decision in an attempt at the WBA Super Flyweight Crown nine months after losing to Ancajas and a unanimous decision to Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez for the WBA Super Flyweight Belt in 2020. He also lost his last outing to Bam Rodriguez in another title shot.
His biggest win came against Sho Ishida in Japan in 2019 and his lone draw was a 10-round affair with Jose Martinez-Mercado in March, 2021 for the vacant WBO NABO Bantamweight Title. Gonzalez fell short against Rodriguez, Ancajas, Yafai and Gonzalez but proved he can handle himself well enough for a young prospect. He doesn’t possess much in the way of power but has plenty of talent and heart.
Rodriguez is a 27-year-old and makes the ring walk with a mark of 24-2 with 16 Ko’s. He made his pro debut in 2015 and has boxed 152 rounds since. He possesses pretty good power with a current knockout ratio of 61.5 per cent but has gone three straight fights without a stoppage. In addition, other than losing to Jerwin Ancajas by unanimous decision in a shot at the IBF Super Bantamweight Title in April, 2021, after being dropped in the eighth round, most of his opponents have basically been relative unknowns.
Rodriguez’s first defeat came in March, 2018 when he dropped a a 10-round split decision to Jose Garcia. He measures 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 66.5-inch reach which means he gives up an inch in height to Gonzalez as well as 2.5-inches in height. Since turning pro, Rodriguez has captured the WBC Fecombox Super Flyweight Title with a third-round stoppage of Alejandro Perez in September, 2018 and also won the interim version of the title a year earlier.
Prediction…
Gonzalez has the size advantage here as well as experience but he can’t match Rodriguez when it comes to power, which he will need to be wary of. Gonzalez has a pretty solid chin though even though he was stopped by Ancajas five years ago. I have a feeling that as long as Gonzalez can handle Rodriguez’s power, he should come out of this fight with a win.
I’ll give Gonzalez the edge thanks to his experience and size.
Play: Gonzalez +180 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Israel Gonzalez betting • Jonathan Rodriguez betting