Joet Gonzalez-Issac Dogboe Battle To Get Back In Big Fights

It’s an intriguing Top Rank Boxing main event Saturday night in Minnesota as former 122 lb. world champ Issac Dogboe gets set for a contender battle at featherweight against Joet Gonzalez Saturday. And, for both fighters, they know that a win in an ESPN+ main event will put them back in the conversation for a possible title shot in the short term.

Dogboe and Gonzalez met with the media one final time Thursday at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN before the headline there,

🏆 A title shot is on the line… @JoetGonzalez1 or @IsaacDogboe? #GonzalezDogboe | JUL 23 | ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/WPYtyP8kUA

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 17, 2022

From the Top Rank media release,

“Two-time title challenger Joet Gonzalez (25-2, 15 KOs) will meet former junior featherweight world champion Isaac Dogboe (23-2, 15 KOs) in the 10-round main event Saturday at the Grand Casino Hinckley. Gonzalez will defend his WBO International strap, with the fight also serving as a WBC title eliminator.

“This fight has a little bit of everything. There’s motivation. There’s a little more pressure because the opportunity is there for a third world title shot,” Gonzalez said. “But I got to get the job done. I’ve got to get past Isaac Dogboe first and then go from there.”

“I took a lot from the Navarrete fight. You live and learn each and every day. From that fight, I think I showed most of the people what I’m about and what I’m willing to do to get my hand raised. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my hand raised, but I was in that fight for all 12 rounds. If I was hurt, I wouldn’t have fought the way I fought. For the most part, I made that fight exciting. But it is what it is, and now I can’t wait to face Isaac Dogboe.”

Get more of a preview of Gonzalez-Dogboe on the latest “Big Fight Weekend Preview” as Dan Rafael joins me. Hear us by clicking below,

“One thing I believe is that without risk there is no reward. I love the challenge,” Dogboe told media. “I’m always willing to go in there with whoever is in front of me. I’m really looking forward to this fight. I know that Joet is going to bring it. I’m really looking forward to what he’s going to bring.

“There are times where I should be learning how to box, but then Isaac Dogboe just ends up being Isaac Dogboe and just comes out with all guns blazing because he wants to let off steam. But it’s been a gradual process. I’m really thankful for my team.”

Both fighters have common opponent and loss to him in current WBO Featherweight champ Emanuel Navarrete. Dogboe lost his WBO jr. featherweight to Navarrete in an upset decision defeat in December 2018 and then, a “no doubt” KO stoppage in the rematch five months later (May 2019). He’s won three fights since, the last two in narrow decisions at featherweight.

As for Gonzalez, Navarrete battered him as well in a lopsided 12 round decision victory in October 2021. He has a stoppage of Jeo Santisima in May to get him back on track.

In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, the king of Stockton, California, Gabriel Flores Jr. (21-1, 7 KOs) looks to author a career-defining win over unbeaten contender Giovanni Cabrera (20-0, 7 KOs).

The entire card will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 p.m. PT.