Gonzalez wants to get in line for Tyson

Dean Juipe

Thursday, May 27, 1999 | 9:59 a.m.

With Mike Tyson back out of prison, every heavyweight envisions himself landing a lucrative fight with the ex-champion.

If Frans Botha can get rich -- and almost defeat Tyson -- there's no end to the list of fellow contenders who not only would like a fight with Tyson but feel they could win it.

The Showtime cable network wants Tyson to fight Aug. 21 and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas would be the site. Axel Schulz and Brian Nielsen have been mentioned as possible opponents.

But how about Jorge Luis Gonzalez?

"Yeah, I've heard it from everybody," Gonzalez said this week at the Nevada Partners gym, where he's training for a June 6 main event at the New Frontier. "I want a fight with Tyson, but I want one with Michael Grant too."

Gonzalez is still burning from a first-round knockout loss to Grant Nov. 7, 1997, in Las Vegas. That defeat seemed to signify the end of the line for Gonzalez, a huge amateur sensation from Cuba who moved to Las Vegas when the MGM signed him to an expensive contract.

But Gonzalez never lived up to expectations, losing by sixth-round knockout to Riddick Bowe in 1995 and then sliding toward oblivion.

Now he's feeling fit and rejuvenated after years of neglect.

"I know people may think I'm done, but they're wrong," he said. "I'm feeling wonderful. I'm strong and I have speed. People have had their reasons for talking bad about me, and now it's time to show them how good I really can be."

Gonzalez is 33-5 with 30 knockouts and his career revival can be tied to hooking up with trainer Kevin Henry. They've known each other since competing on rival Cuba vs. USA amateur teams and have been together for three fights.

"Everything's much different with Jorge," Henry said. "He's much more serious than he used to be and now he's doing the things he should have done years ago.

"This guy knows how to fight, but now he's willing to listen and learn. He's thinking much more."

Gonzalez, 34, will fight fellow veteran Alex Stewart at the New Frontier on an America Presents card. He said the assignment doesn't worry him.

"I know who he is but I don't really care," he said of the 43-8 Stewart. "I believe my conditioning has been so good it doesn't matter who I fight."

Henry said "Stewart is the perfect opponent for us because he has a 'name.' We win that fight and we're at least somewhat back in the picture in terms of a title fight or maybe someone like Tyson."

Gonzalez, always imposing at 6-foot-7, said weight and conditioning problems led to his earlier demise.

"I felt very bad after losing to Bowe," he said. "I was fat and slow. There was a lot of pressure on me with the MGM people and they intruded on my training.

"By the time of the fight, I hardly had any energy."

As was obvious by seeing him at Nevada Partners, a lack of energy is no longer a problem.

"Those losses he had have made him a better fighter," Henry said. "He realized that wasn't him and it's motivated him to turn his career around. He's buckled down."

As part of his training, Henry forced Gonzalez to watch his losses to Bowe, Grant and Tim Witherspoon.

"He didn't want to do it," Henry said. "He'd thrown away the tape of the Bowe fight, so I had to order another one. I made him watch."

It couldn't have been a pretty sight, but maybe the sequel -- with Gonzalez in the role of victor in a significant fight -- will have a happier ending.