Jonathan Oquendo’s Contender’s Gambit
On September 12, 2015, Jonathan Oquendo defeated former two-division champion Jhonny González by majority decision in Las Vegas. Oquendo subsequently challenged Jesús Cuéllar for the WBA featherweight title but lost a unanimous decision, and later faced Jamel Herring in another world-level contest.
A breakthrough against Jhonny González
On September 12, 2015, Oquendo faced González in a ten-round bout in Las Vegas. González had held world titles at bantamweight and featherweight, making the matchup a serious measure of Oquendo’s standing. Oquendo earned a majority decision, a result that strengthened his claim as a contender and opened the door to a championship opportunity.
That opportunity came later the same year. On December 5 in Brooklyn, Oquendo challenged Jesús Cuéllar for the WBA featherweight title. Cuéllar retained his championship by unanimous decision. Oquendo came up short, but he completed the scheduled twelve rounds with the champion and remained in the world-title picture.
Another title shot, and a difficult ending
Oquendo continued to pursue major opportunities after the Cuéllar fight. In 2019, he met Lamont Roach Jr. in a WBO International title bout, losing by decision. He returned later that year to win the vacant WBO Latino junior-lightweight title, a reminder that his career continued to move forward after setbacks.
His next world-title challenge came against WBO junior-lightweight champion Jamel Herring on September 5, 2020, in Las Vegas. The fight ended in the eighth round when Oquendo was disqualified (WBO fight report). Herring retained the belt, leaving Oquendo without the major world title he had pursued through several divisions and several years.
Oquendo’s record is more than a list of title opportunities. The González victory showed he could beat an established former champion, while the Cuéllar and Herring bouts placed him opposite reigning titleholders. Between those tests, regional championships and a return from defeat kept his career moving. He never captured a major world championship, but he repeatedly earned his way back into contention.
Explore more boxing on MMAUSA.
Sources
Article Tags
Jonathan Oquendo, Boxing, Championship Fights, Boxing History
