WBC featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez of Mexico has celebrated his 30th birthday by retaining his crown with a rousing 2nd round TKO win over Rogers ?The Tiger? Mtagwa of Tanzania before a huge crowd at the El Paso County Coliseum.
Mtagwa showed his intent of starting off aggressively behind his jab but the champion used a solid left hook to back him up although Mtagwa proved to be a tough opponent.
Gonzalez began to find the range and nailed Mtagwa with left hooks to the body and head towards the end of the opening round.
Gonzalez clearly asserted himself in the second round as he hammered the challenger from all angles using his vicious left hook to hurt Mtagwa.
Trapped in the neutral corner Gonzalez cracked Mtagwa with a right cross prompting referee Guadalupe Garcia to call a halt at 2:15 of round two.
In a post fight interview Gonzalez said ?He [Mtagwa] is a slow starter, so I knew my best chances were in the first rounds,? said Gonzalez. ?I made it look easy... Hard preparation is what did it.?
The champion then called out WBA No. 2 ranked Yuriorkis Gamboa who had also knocked out Mtagwa in the second round and WBC No. 3 Mikey Garcia, brother of former world champion and trainer of Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire, Robert Garcia.
With the win Gonzalez who won the title with a stunning 4th round TKO of Japan's Hozumi Hasegawa last April 8, improved his record to 50-7 with 44 knockouts.
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