Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez will return to a familiar setting for his first title defense.

The reigning WBO junior flyweight titlist from Caguas, Puerto Rico is set to next face former title challenger Mark Anthony ‘Baby Boy’ Barriga. The scheduled 12-round battle of diminutive southpaws will take place June 24 atop a ProBox TV show in association with All Star Boxing, Inc. from Osceola Heritage Park (OHP) in Kissimmee, Florida, event handlers confirmed Tuesday morning.

Gonzalez fights for the first time since winning the WBO title in a twelve-round decision over Elwin Soto last October in Fresno, California. The fight marked his first on the U.S. West Coast, now returning home—sort of—as a defending titlist, having frequently appeared in the Boricua-friendly Central Florida region on his rise to contention.

“I’m ready to kick off a dominant reign as world champion by making the first defense of my title,” Gonzalez noted of the opportunity. “Elwin Soto learned that I’m not somebody you should underestimate, so I hope Mark Anthony Barriga is training as hard as possible because I’m coming with everything on June 24.”

Probox TV will stream the event live on its website.

Gonzalez (25-3-1, 14KOs)—who is promoted by Felix ‘Tutico’ Zabala Jr’s All Star Boxing, Inc.—has fought three times before at OHP, all in succession and on Telemundo during a 2018 campaign preceding his valiant challenge of three-division and then-unbeaten WBO flyweight titlist Kosei Tanaka in August 2019. Gonzalez was ahead or even on all three scorecards through six rounds before suffering three knockdowns and a stoppage defeat in round seven, after which he dropped back down to junior flyweight.

Three wins have followed—one each in Miami and Tampa before dethroning Soto for the WBO title last October.

Barriga (11-1, 2KOs) makes his second attempt at a major title, the previous effort resulting in his lone career defeat.

The 28-year-old contender from Panabo City, Philippines—who represented his homeland in the 2012 London Olympics—dropped a twelve-round split decision to unbeaten Carlos Licona in their December 2018 vacant IBF strawweight title fight. Two wins have followed, both versus nondescript opposition though enough to keep him ranked high enough to make another title play.

“I have fought in the Olympics, for a world title, and was ranked No. 1 in the world, but this is the most important fight of my career,” insists Barriga. “La Bomba is a world champion for a reason. He is a great opponent, and this is going to be an exciting fight.

“I am so thankful to my management One Above Sports Consultancy and Dejan Zavec for making this happen with a fantastic promoter All Star Boxing, Tuto, and Ruben [DeJesus, All Star Boxing director of operations]. Thank you, Pro Box TV, for showing this around the world, especially for my country people in the Philippines.”

Cordial exchanges aside, Gonzalez plans to use the fight as the chance to celebrate in front of a pro-Boricua crowd in his continued quest to collect more titles in the talent-laden junior flyweight division.

Gonzalez has called for unification bouts with two-time and restored WBC titlist Kenshiro Teraji and long-reigning WBA champion Hiroto Kyoguchi. The intention is to use June 24 as a showcase and further strengthen his case to secure such fights.

“This is my division. Nobody is going to beat me at 108 pounds. I look forward to an exciting night for the fans and to leaving the ring with my hand raised in victory.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox