The Ecuadorian will defend his IBO title in a duel against the English at the Manchester Arena, in the city of Manchester.
The undefeated Ecuadorian Carlos Góngora and champion of the super middle division of the International Boxing Organization (IBO, for its acronym in English) said this Friday, after the official weigh-in, that on Saturday he will go up to the ring of the Manchester Arena with the only slogan of defending his belt and leaving the name of the country “at the top”.
Góngora (20-0-0, with 15 knockouts) will face the Englishman Lerrone Richards (15-0-0, with 3 knockouts) in one of the main matches on the card led by former world champion Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora.
After the “first test passed” (the official weigh-in), the Esmeraldas fighter said on Instagram that in Manchester he will fight in each round to keep something that he had a hard time getting.
Góngora became IBO world champion on December 18, 2020 by knocking out Kazakh Ali Akhmedov in the twelfth round and retained the belt on April 17 by defeating by technical knockout in the eighth round American Christopher Pearson, in what was his only fight of 2021.
“Life made me understand which was the path I have to travel to be where I am. Many times external factors can condition you, but it is the essence with which you grow up that makes you draw strength from where there is none. The hows don’t matter when you have a why. It is necessary that there is nothing left to give, before I can appear with everything I have. It is the difference between what is done in the dark and what I bring to the light. “LIFE IS UPHILL …”, he posted.
The tricolor had planned to make its second defense months ago, initially in Italy, last July, within a card in which the stellar performance of the British Anthony Joshua was expected. Later, promoters indicated that there was a great possibility in September against fellow Englishman John Ryder, in Florida, United States. It did not happen.
Finally, the boxer who settled in Tena (Napo province) when he was in Ecuador, on November 4 announced his intervention on the undercard of ‘Parker vs. Chisora ’to fulfill his second IBO belt defense.
After a brief camp organized in Guayaquil and Samborondón last July, the world champion headed to the United States to fully focus on his training.
During his stay in the Main Port, he told EL UNIVERSO that his fighting style is based on waiting and testing the opponent and letting him land the first blow. “With that I already know with what force it comes, how it is going to generate its fighting tactic, and I apply it forward”.
Regarding the tactical plan, Góngora indicated that this “is always the point of analysis that is done” by analyzing videos of rivals. “Based on that, the tactical plan is prepared to be able to win them, seeing all the shortcomings they have”.
One of his virtues, the Esmeraldeño highlighted, is not depending much on the presence of his corner during the fight.
“My head coach, Cirilo López, has taught me everything; how to know how to fight with each rival, how to fight the average, the short one, and above all solve the problems that are generated in the ring. Thanks to that we have always been able to get out of any fight, “added the tricolor.
Gongora said his techniques are varied, as he sees Floyd Mayweather Jr., Muhammad Ali and Manny Pacquiao, “who are the greatest in boxing.” “Ali used scrolling quite a bit. So I choose a little of each of them and apply it to my technique and make my own tactic with my boxing “.
The complete card and the fight of the national credit can be seen exclusively on the platform of streaming DAZN. The event starts at 18:00 GMT (13:00, Ecuadorian time). (D)
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