Danny Gonzalez to face Orlando Collins on March 2 in Atlantic City
Photo: Danny Gonzalez with trainer Percy Gayanilo. Photo by Carlo Estonactoc
Lightweight prospect “Dangerous” Danny Gonzalez will have his second pro fight on March 2 when he faces Orlando Collins at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, N.J.
Gonzalez (1-0, 1 knockout) of Iselin, N.J. will be returning to the city where he made his pro debut last July, stopping Michael Ruiz in two rounds. This time, he’s hoping to get more opportunities to showcase his abilities against Collins (0-9-1, 1 no contest), a 36-year-old from Euless, Tex. who has been stopped just twice in his eleven bouts.
“I’m more than excited. Ever since my first fight I’ve been in the gym. I haven’t left the gym, I’ve been working. Now I’m excited to showcase my skills and showcase the things that I’ve been working on since my first fight,” said the 28-year-old Gonzalez, who won the 147-pound open class title at the 2023 N.J. Golden Gloves, and played running back and cornerback at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in Iselin, N.J
Danny Gonzalez with Rajon Chance at Park Elite. Photo by Ryan Songalia
Though Gonzalez hasn’t fought since July, he has gotten consistent work in sparring at Park Elite Boxing Academy in Roselle Park, sparring with undefeated pros like Rajon Chance and Joel Flores.
“I’m definitely looking to show a little more. I’m excited for the challenge, I’m excited to fight a veteran that will get the best out of me. I know he’s gonna bring a good fight and come out strong. It’s a good opportunity to showcase that I’m a complete fighter and not just a big puncher,” said Gonzalez.
Percy Gayanilo, the trainer and manager of Gonzalez, says the plan is to move Gonzalez relatively quickly due to his age, but he still wants him to learn something in each fight.
“You don’t really learn knocking a guy out in ten seconds. Maybe Danny can showcase his skillset and then stop the guy,” said Gayanilo.
Tickets priced from $65 to $175 can be purchased directly from Gonzalez by messaging Gayanilo through the Park Elite Instagram account.
The card, which is promoted by Nedals Promotions and Hard Hitting Promotions will be headlined by former IBF junior lightweight titleholder Tevin Farmer, and will feature a number of top New Jersey boxing talent, including junior middleweight prospect Robert Terry of Jersey City (11-0-1, 4 KOs) facing off with Elijah Vines (7-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round bout, plus super middleweight prospect Cali Box (3-0, 2 KOs) of Franklin Township, N.J. vs. Eric Hadley (0-4) in a four-round bout, and heavyweight Norman Neely (14-1, 9 KOs) of Paterson, N.J. vs. Lamont Capers (11-20-5, 2 KOs) in an eight-round fight.