Albert Gonzalez is on the fast track to success.
A possible fight against a world titleholder could be in play sooner than people think.
Gonzalez will face former world title challenger Aaron Alameda on Saturday, July 18, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. The 10-round bout will precede the main event bout between super middleweight contenders Diego Pacheco and Immanuwel Aleem.
Both fights will stream live on DAZN at 5 p.m.
Gonzalez (17-0, 10 knockouts), who resides in Riverside, has risen up the ranks of the featherweight division. He is currently in the top 13 in two of boxing’s sanctioning bodies.
The 24-year-old’s ascension in the 126-pound division has even impressed his trainer Robert Garcia.
Garcia is a 1993 Channel Islands High School graduate and former IBF world junior lightweight champion.
“ ‘Chop Chop’ is my next ‘Bam’ ” Garcia recently told The Star.
“Bam” is Jesse Rodriguez, who won the WBA bantamweight title on June 13 by stopping Antonio Vargas. The unbeaten Rodriguez is currently considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing.
“All he needs is that opportunity. This fight (against Alameda) is going to be a step up in competition, just to show what he can do,” Garcia said. “I think by the end of next year, Chop Chop will be able to fight any of the world champions.”
Gonzalez is promoted by Top Rank, which is considered the best at developing talent from prospect to a world title shot.
Garcia may reconsider a possible shot at a world title based on the performance of Bruce Carrington, who currently holds the WBC title.
Carrington did not look his best, even looking vulnerable at times, against Rene Palacios of Mexico on July 4, winning by unanimous decision.
Garcia recently told YouTuber Elie Sechback he is open for Gonzalez to face Carrington and favors Gonzalez to become a champion, if that fight does happen.
Alameda (31-3, 18 KOs) was victorious in his last bout on April 11, stopping Yehison Cuello Quientero after the fourth round in his hometown of Nogales, Mexico.
The win over Cuello Quientero took place seven-and-a-half months after Alameda lost by unanimous decision to Yan Santana of the Dominican Republic.
The 32-year-old Alameda suffered the first defeat as a pro in September 2020, losing by unanimous decision to Luis Nery. The vacant WBC junior featherweight was on the line.
Cuba in action
Another fighter trained by Robert Garcia will see action on July 18.
Junior welterweight Anthony Cuba (12-1-2, 5 KOs) will face Misael Cabrera Urias at the Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino.
Cuba has won his last five bouts since a decision loss to talented prospect Curmel Moton in March 2024.
Cabrera Urias (18-3-1, 12 KOs), who lives in Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, has only lost once in his last seven fights.
Francisco A. Salazar covers boxing The Star. He has also written for Ring Magazine, Boxingscene and Fightnews. He can reached on X (formerly Twitter) at FSalazarBoxing.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Garcia-trained Albert Gonzalez to fight in Carson on July 18
Reporting by Francisco A. Salazar, Special to Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Francisco A. Salazar, Special to Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
