Goossen to Fight Lonon for IBO Title in Valley

What he promised at the start of the year, boxing promoter Gerrie Coetzee says he will deliver three weeks from today:

A world title fight in the San Fernando Valley.

Coetzee said Tuesday that undefeated junior middleweight P.J. Goossen will meet Greg Lonon in a 12-round bout for the International Boxing Organization championship in the Warner Center Marriott hotel’s Grand Ballroom on June 26.

Goossen, from North Hollywood, has a record of 16-0 with 11 knockouts. Lonon, from Las Vegas, is 16-6 with 10 KOs.

The IBO is not a widely recognized boxing organization, but Coetzee sniffed at cynics who might suggest he had not met his pledge.

“It’s the fighter who makes the title,” Coetzee said. “You’ve got to start somewhere.”

Goossen, 26, the reigning state champion, has not fought since last September, when he dispatched journeyman Eric McNair in an unimpressive eight-round unanimous decision.

Coetzee said that a world title fight was in the offing then, but Goossen had to pull out of a scheduled bout at the Marriott in January because of a recurring injury to the middle knuckle on his right hand.

Pat Goossen, the fighter’s father, trainer and manager, said at the time that his son was contemplating retirement. P.J. Goossen said that was not the case.

“My dad was just upset,” he said. “Why would I retire 16-0 and throw all my work and all that money away?

“I was never retiring. My hand was just so messed up that when I hit someone it killed me more than the other guy. Now it’s back to normal and I’m ready to go.”

If Goossen wins, Coetzee said a matchup with former world champion Roberto Duran might be next. Duran meets Hector Camacho later this month.

“Duran was a great fighter,” Goossen said. “But his time has passed. He’s probably going to find that out against Camacho.”

Among others tentatively set for the June 26 Marriott card are three undefeated prospects--welterweight Sean Daugherty, junior welterweight Danny Perez and heavyweight Joe Powder.