Arnold Khegai vs Joet Gonzalez Preview March 8th, 2025
Joet Gonzalez of Glendora, California returns to the ring this Saturday, March 8th to engage in a 10-round featherweight bout with Arnold Khegai of Ukraine. The contest takes place in Long Beach California and can be seen live on ProBox and the network’s YouTube outlet. Gonzalez was unsuccessful the last time out as he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Luis Alberto Lopez in a shot at the IBF Featherweight Crown. Khegai last saw action in August and halted Belmar Preciado after the eighth round.
Khegai vs Gonzalez Betting Odds
Here are the winner odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Joet Gonzalez +195
- Arnold Khegai -245
My Pick
Khegai is 32 years old and boxes out of Los Angeles, California. He carries around a record of 22-1-1 with 14 Ko’s and has boxed 140 rounds since turning pro in 2015 following his amateur career, which saw him compete in the World Series of Boxing. He also competed in Muay Thai before turning pro. Khegai stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with a wingspan of 66 inches and as far as power goes, he has enough of it to cause damage as 63.6 per cent of his wins have come by way of stoppage, including four of his past five.
The lone defeat on Khegai’s record came at the hands of Stephen Fulton by a 12-round unanimous decision in 2020 in a shot at the WBO Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight Title. His one and only draw was an eight-round affair with Yerzhan Zalilov in 2016. Khegai boxed for the first few years of his pro career before relocating to America. He has a solid chin, but other than Fulton he hasn’t really faced any top-10 contenders or champions. His best wins have come against Eduardo Baez, Ruben Tostado Garcia, Jorge Diaz, Adam Lopez and Vladimir Tikhonov.
The 31-year-old Gonzalez makes the ring walk with a record of 26-4 with 15 Ko’s and also fights out of Los Angeles. He stands 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 70-inch reach and has boxed 182 rounds since making his pro debut back in 2012. This gives him an inch height advantage on Khegai as well as four inches in reach. He possesses a bit less power than Khegai however as 57.7 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage and he’s gone the distance in six of his last seven fights. Since turning pro he’s captured the WBO NABO, and WBO International Featherweight Belts and as an amateur he won silver at 2011 National championships and gold the following year.
Gonzalez’s biggest wins have been against Jeo Santisima, Miguel Marriaga, Rafael Rivera, Rodrigo Guerrero, Derrick Murray and Jose Miguel Tamayo. His first defeat came to Shakur Stevenson via unanimous decision in a shot at the vacant WBO Featherweight Title in 2019. His second defeat was also a WBO World Featherweight Title shot when he dropped a unanimous decision to Emanuel Navarrete in 2021. His next loss was a 10-round split decision to former world champion Isaac Dogboe in 2022 to lose his WBO International Title and he also lost the last time out to Lopez.
Gonzalez possesses a fine jab and combines it with good footwork while keeping his guard high for defence. He had a fine amateur career which saw him beat and lose to Gervonta Davis and also compete in the World Series of Boxing. He performed well against Stevenson, Navarrete, Dogboe and Lopez, but fell short of pulling off an upset in each fight. However, he did gain some valuable experience against world-class opposition.
Prediction……
Khegai has displayed more power than Gonzalez recently but both men have never been stopped as pros. Khegai has more power while Gonzalez owns the better boxing skills and has the size advantage. Khegai is a relentless worker who applied pressure and gradually wears his opponents down. He’s taking a big step up in class here though as Gonzalez beats him hands down when it comes to quality of opponent. This should be a close, hard-fought battle with a few momentum swings but I think if Gonzalez can handle the pressure and power of Khegai he should be able to outbox him as long as he lets his hands go.
Gonzalez’s experience and skill should lead to a close win.
Play: Gonzalez +195 @ BetOnline.ag
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Arnold Khegai betting • Joet Gonzalez betting