By David Martinez / dmboxing.com I was absolutely saddened to hear the recent news of the death of former WBC light heavyweight champion Julio Gonzalez, who passed away at the age of 35 after a motorcycle accident in Mexico. He was hit by a hit-and-run drunk driver near the area of his father’s ranch in Guerrero Negro, Baja California.
I had the pleasure of meeting Julio in my boxing travels and he was such a kind young man. He was considered a hard working champion in the ring and prepared himself well in the gym prior to all his fights.
Julio fought the legendary Roy Jones, Jr. in February 2001 losing a bid for the WBC light heavyweight championship, but in 2003 he shocked the boxing world by defeating the undeafeated (48-0) Dariusz Michalczewski in Hamburg, Germany to win the WBC light heavyweight title.
In 2001, prior to the Jones fight, in a fight against Julian Letterlough that was a candidate for fight of the year with each fighter being down several times, with Gonzalez won a hard-fought 12-round unanimous decision. Julio later fought and lost two attempts, by decisions, to Clinton Woods in bids to win the IBF light heavyweight title. Julio had 49 fights on his resume, winning 41 of them, with 25 by knockout.
May he rest in peace in heaven with the Lord and may we all pray for his soul.