IBF have their head in the Clouds
June 10, 2008
How many lives does a cat have? Not as many as Julio Cesar Gonzalez that’s for sure. The Mexican light heavyweight 41-5(25) will once again take part in an IBF-sanctioned fight, when he takes on American prospect Tavoris Cloud 18-0(17) for the IBF’s #1 spot.
Gonzalez fought then IBF champion Clinton Woods back in 2005. Gonzalez was the mandatory challenger. Despite losing, the Mexican was put forward by the IBF to fight in an IBF eliminator in his very next fight – against Jason DeLisle. This helped the Mexican become mandatory to Woods once again. But despite losing to Woods again, and then to Reggie Johnson this February, Gonzalez once again finds himself one step away from a world title crack.
Given that Gonzalez is now ranked #10 by the IBF, this means that presumably Roy Jones Junior, Clinton Woods, Glencoffe Johnson, Yuri Barashain, Reggie Johnson and Thomas Ulrich were all offerred, and all passed up the chance to vie for the IBF’s #1 spot, since they are all rated above Gonzalez, and there seems little reason why Gonzalez would be considered before them
