He diligently operated in the sport’s shadows, and when boxing’s bright lights summoned Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez Saturday night, he came shining through.
The fast-rising contender from the sport’s best gym scored a second-round knockout of veteran Edward Vazquez, delivering a hellacious body shot to punctuate a barrage that moves Gonzalez to 19-0 with 11 KOs.
Referee Laurence Cole counted 10 just 1 minute, four seconds into the second round.
“I wanted to stay in the pocket. [Vazquez] was a little slow, so I planned to catch him,” Gonzalez said. “The body is on my mind every fight. That left to the body ended it all. I felt blessed, knew it was game over no matter what.”
Gonzalez, 24, kept himself busy at club shows surrounding Southern California as his promoter, Top Rank, operated without a broadcast deal.
He piled up five victories – four by knockout or stoppage – and gained the reward of Saturday’s co-main event at Frost Bank Center.
Gonzalez, of Moreno Valley, California, was enthusiastic about meeting a recent title challenger who was stopped by WBO featherweight Rafael Espinoza in May 2025 before reeling off three consecutive victories.
Training at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy alongside unbeaten champions Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Vergil Ortiz Jnr.
Gonzalez was so charged by the triumph he said he’d hop on a plane to Saudi Arabia to become Espinoza’s replacement opponent on October 31.
What keyed Saturday’s showing?
“Staying disciplined, listening to my trainers,” Gonzalez said.
Earlier, former lightweight title challenger Frank Martin stopped former sparring partner Tarik Zaina in the seventh round, a power left igniting a flurry that led to a knockdown preceding the referee’s stoppage at 2:38.
Martin, 20-1-1 (14 KOs), made his Top Rank promotional debut after coming off a February draw at 140lbs versus Nahir Albright.
“It took me a while to get it going, but we got it done,” Martin said. “It wasn’t going my way, but I kept pressing… I caught him with the hook.”
Martin, ranked eighth by the WBO and ninth by the WBA, said the reach of Zaina, 18-4-1, presented difficulties before he cracked Zaina with the defining blow.
Deric “Scooter” Davis swept the scorecards, 80-72, against Joaquin Faccio 10-2 of Uruguay to claim his third consecutive victory by decision while improving to 13-0.
Davis, of Washington, outlanded Faccio 105-51 in power punches.
Before the main DAZN card, Los Angeles lightweight Sammy Contreras, 9-0, kept his record spotless with three 60-54 scores to set aside Oscar Padilla.