“San Diego’s Biggest Little Fight” set for November 18th
Lester Gonzalez is confidant he can outpoint Chris Chatman on November 18, 2010. Photo: J. Wyatt
Bobby D. Presents and Jorge Marron Productions are holding a press conference, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., November 3rd, at the Crown Plaza San Diego Hotel in Mission Valley to announce their upcoming fight card scheduled for Thursday, November 18th at the same location.
What makes this Coors Light Boxing Series show different from all the rest? This show will feature two of San Diego’s biggest names, Lester “El Cubanito” Gonzalez (11-0-1, 6 KO’s) and Chris “The Last Chapter” Chatman (8-1, 4 KO’s) fighting it out for the California State Super Welterweight Title.
Nowadays, it’s rare when you have two very good boxers from the same area fighting against one another. Plus, both boxers are left-handed and have sparred with many of the same boxers. In other words, the boxers and their coaches will know the other fighter’s weaknesses if any.
Gonzalez, who’s 32 years of age, is a Cuban defector who hales from Havana, the capital city of Cuba. The population and for that matter the climate of Havana is similar to the population and climate we have in San Diego. Until Sunday, he had been training with Chris Getz at the Black Tiger Gym on Miramar Road just across the road from MCAS Miramar.
On Monday, his co-manager, Lou Messina, decided to take Gonzalez to see David Gutierrez, a former undefeated pro boxer and well respected trainer. Some people say Gutierrez is the best trainer in San Diego. With the stakes being so high and the difference in skill levels so meager for this upcoming fight, Messina wanted to see if Gutierrez could help. After the two hour workout, Gutierrez conferred with both Messina and Gonzalez and a plan was set in motion to go forward with Gonzalez’s training at the Gutierrez Gym owned and operated by Max Gutierrez.
Cuba has a storied history of producing great boxers, people like: Kid Gavilan (107-30-6), Juan Carlos “Pantera Negra” Gomez (48-2-0), Jose Legra (133-12-4), Luis Manuel “El Feo” Rodriguez (107-13-0), and of course who can forget the greatest heavyweight duo of all time, Teófilo Stevenson and Félix Savón. Together, the two amateurs dominated every world heavyweight amateur championship from 1972 to 2000.
In Gonzalez’s last fight, he was the recipient of a head butt from Ibraheim King and though the gash had blood streaming down his face, Gonzalez refused to quit. He persevered to win a unanimous decision. After the fight the wound needed 11 stitches. Gonzalez will do whatever it takes to maintain his unblemished record; just as his fellow countrymen have done: Erislandy Lara (13-0), Odlanier Solis (16-0) and Yuriorkis Gamboa (19-0) who presently fight out of Miami, Florida.
Gonzalez’s opponent on November 18th is also a transplant to San Diego; Chris
Chris Chatman of City Boxing Downtown poses for a photo after one of his victories in the Coors Light Boxing Series. Photo credit Jim Wyatt
Chatman grew up in Chicago, Illinois, on the South side. While fulfilling his Navy commitment here in San Diego, Chatman began to train under the tutelage of Sergio Melendrez in Chula Vista. Then before exiting the Navy, he switched to City Boxing, in Downtown San Diego and trained with Vernon Lee. Chatman is currently being coached by Manny Melchor with an assist from Carlos Ferreira.
Chatman’s last fight on October 8, 2010 was scheduled to go six rounds at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. For four rounds he went toe to toe with Alberto “Baby Dynamite” Herrera (7-0-1, 5 KO’s). Since most of the spectators felt Chatman was the underdog, they were looking for their hometown hero to win easily. They didn’t take into consideration that Chatman’s only loss came on a decision loss to Olympian Demetrius Andrade, October 3, 2009 in Rhode Island. In that Rhode Island fiasco, a fight taken on short notice, Chatman missed a golden opportunity to finish Andrade off.
In the Herrera fight Chatman scored two knockdowns in the first round and in the fourth frame, referee Ray Corona stepped in to stop the fight.
The other bouts on the docket:
In the Co-Main Event:
Middleweights, James “Choco” Parison (12-1, 3 KO’s) South San Diego, CA vs. Loren
After his long layoff (10 days shy of a full year), James Parison of the Gutierrez Gym is anxious to get back in action. Photo: Jim Wyatt
“Rock” Myers (7-9-1, 2 KO’s) Fresno, CA
Featherweights, Pablo “Bronco” Armenta (3-0-1, 1 KO) South San Diego vs. Ronald “Mad Man” Hurley (4-4-2, 0 KO’s) San Jacinto, CA
A Super Bantamweight match (a rematch) features
Christian “Huevo” Bojorquez (1-0, 0 KO’s) Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico vs. Salvador “Chava” Cifuentez (0-1-0) of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista, CA
Lightweights, Emmanuel Robles (1-0, 0 KO’s) vs. TBA
Welterweights, Ernesto Ocon (1-0, 0 KO’s) Los Angeles, CA. vs. TBA
