Albert Gonzalez Stays Undefeated with Vicious Body Shot KO of Edward Vazquez
The unbeaten featherweight prospect retained his NABF title with a second-round body shot stoppage.
Albert "Chop Chop" Gonzalez made quick work of Edward Vazquez on the Foster vs. Navarrete undercard, scoring a second-round knockout with a devastating left hook to the body to retain his NABF featherweight title at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Saturday night.
Gonzalez, who improved to 19-0 with 12 knockouts, took a patient first round to find his range while Vazquez led. The 24-year-old Robert Garcia trainee flipped the script in the second, hurting Vazquez early and following with short, punishing combinations. The left hook to the body sent Vazquez to the canvas, and referee Laurence Cole counted to ten as Vazquez could not beat the count, per Boxing News 24.
Vazquez, now 20-4 with 6 knockouts, had been riding a three-fight winning streak coming in. The veteran has shared the ring with Joe Cordina and Rafael Espinoza, but he had never been stopped as a professional until Saturday night. Gonzalez's body attack was the difference.
The performance was a carbon copy of Gonzalez's July win over Aaron Alameda, which also ended in the second round on a body shot. Two straight body shot finishes in title fights tells you this kid has a signature weapon. The question now is whether his team moves him up in competition. An undefeated prospect with finishing power and a clear identity at featherweight is going to start drawing bigger names soon.
Chop Chop Gonzalez is 19-0 and he has finished two straight guys with body shots in the second round. That is not a coincidence. That is a fighter who knows where the kill shot lives and sets it up the same way every time. Patient first round, read the timing, then go to the body when the opening shows up.
Vazquez had never been stopped before Saturday night. Cordina could not do it. Espinoza could not do it. Gonzalez did it in two rounds with one perfect left hook. At 24 years old, training under Robert Garcia, this kid is a problem for the featherweight division.
Garcia needs to step up the competition now. Gonzalez has outgrown regional titles. Put him in with a ranked contender and see what he does. If the body shot works against that level, we are looking at a future champion.
