BOXING Rosales optimistic about victory over Gonzalez

Though fighting outside the confines of home against a former world champion, unbeaten upand-comer Jessie Cris Rosales is optimistic about his chances of walking out with the victory in what should be the toughest test of his budding career.

Rosales takes on two-division world titleholder Jhonny Gonzalez on July 22 at the Lienzo Charro Parral in Chihuahua, Mexico.

“I have a big chance of winning this fight because he is al- ready old. What is important is that you really give your best,” said Rosales in a statement. Though the 25-year-old Rosales, who fights out of the Omega Boxing Gym, has the youth advantage, he isn't letting his guard down against Gonzalez, 10 years older and with 51 more fights.

“I can't be complacent because he is very experienced and he is a former world champion,” he said.

The 35-year-old Gonzalez, a for- mer World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion, has fought some elite names. He owns wins over Jorge Arce, Abner Mares, Hozumi Hasegawa and Fernando Montiel and lost to the likes of Gary Russell Jr., Daniel Ponce de Leon, Toshiaki Nishioka, Israel Vazquez and Filipino Gerry Peñalosa.

“I will try my best to make sure it won't reach the 10th round,” said Rosales. “I won't say what round I will stop him, but I will really try my best to go for the knockout.”

Rosales, who hasn't fought an opponent of Gonzalez's level, is coming off a second round knockout win over veteran Jerry Nardo, while Gonzalez is fresh from a third round stoppage of Francisco Contreras.

Rosales has an unblemished slate of 21-0-1 with nine knockouts, while 63-10 with 53 knockouts.