Gonzales, Staggered in 8th, Wins Decision Over Ortega

In what may have been his toughest test yet as a pro, Paul Gonzales had to summon his rock-bottom reservoirs of stamina and courage Monday night to save a lopsided decision win over fast-finishing Jorge Ortega.

Before a cheering, standing-room-only crowd of 1,425 gathered under chandeliers in a ballroom at the Irvine Marriott Hotel, Gonzales, the unbeaten (now 8-0) flyweight from East Los Angeles, seemed on his way to a near-shutout over his Mexico City opponent.

But in the eighth round, he suddenly found himself fighting desperately not only to preserve his unbeaten record, but a June 10 United States Boxing Assn. title fight as well.

One judge wound up scoring Gonzales the winner by 99-91, and the other two had it 98-92. Through seven, it looked as if the 1984 Olympic gold medalist might be on his way to three 100-90 cards.

Everything, it seemed, was working. Gonzales hit Ortega repeatedly with a quick, thumping left jab through the early rounds, scored with 1-2s as well as lead rights to the head, and hurt him often with body punches. Ortega didn’t seem to be wearing down appreciably, but Gonzales was pitching a shutout.

Then Ortega, who came in with a 9-5-1 record, brought the fans to their feet in the first minute of the eighth round when he caught Gonzales flush on the jaw with a looping left hook. Staggered, Gonzales wobbled backward onto the ropes, where Ortega nailed him again with another hard hook.

For the first time, Gonzales was grabbing and holding on, trying to clear away the fog. He was out of danger in the last half-minute, and at the bell he swatted Ortega on the butt and said: “Good round.” Then he wobbled back to his corner.

Gonzales came out for the ninth on shaky legs, and Ortega had him on the ropes in short order. There, he pounded him with eight consecutive punches. At this juncture, the crowd was roaring, and Ortega’s cornermen were so excited they were nearly on the ring apron.

From somewhere, Gonzales found a formula to make his legs work in the last round, and he won it as he’d won the first seven. At the final bell, he was bombing away at his relentless opponent. As both fighters were lifted aloft by their handlers, a shower of money sailed into the ring, a warriors’ tribute not often seen since Olympic Auditorium days.

The spectators really got into this one. Gonzales could barely leave the ringside area, so thick were the backslappers. This was a job for a heavyweight, right? So Henry Tillman, Los Angeles’ second 1984 Olympic champion, left his seat and led interference for Gonzales and guided him, pulling-guard style, to his dressing room.

“He got tougher as the fight went on, and I showed some ring rust out there,” said Gonzales, holding an ice pack over his right eye.

“I kept him away from me with the jab the first two rounds, but after that he went into a kind of tuck and he was coming straight up out of it, and I was afraid he’d butt me. Those first two rounds, I felt real relaxed and confident. I was catching him pretty good.”

Gonzales, who earned $5,000 Monday night, has been one of the least active members of the 1984 Olympic team in the pro ranks. But he may shortly become the busiest. By beating Ortega, he saved a June 10 San Antonio appointment with USBA flyweight champion Raymond Medal.