Top Rank signs Puerto Rican prospect Orlando Gonzalez

Top Rank’s stable of young talent just continues to grow. The latest addition is Puerto Rican featherweight prospect Orlando “Zurdo de Oro” Gonzalez, who joins cousin Henry Lebron under the TR banner on his 24th birthday.

Gonzalez (12-0, 8 KO), whose nickname translates to “Golden Southpaw,” went 162-16 as an amateur before joining the professional ranks in 2016. The Aguadilla native has already fought thrice in 2019, including a TKO finish of former Shakur Stevenson victim Roxberg Patrick on the Masayuki Ito-Jamel Herring undercard this past May.

He’s definitely still in the development stage; five of his victories have come over winless opponents and one other saw him beat 2-40 Dominican Ramon Elimio Cedano. It’ll likely be a while before we see him against quality opposition, but it’s good to see Top Rank giving young talents the opportunity to hone their craft with high-level direction.

I am curious how he and Gilberto Ramirez will settle the nickname dispute though.