The 10-round fight between Gonzalez (18-0, 11 KOs) and Vazquez (20-3, 6 KOs) will serve as the co-main event of a Top Rank show on DAZN headlined by the junior lightweight title unification bout featuring Emanuel Navarrete and O'Shaquie Foster (8 p.m. ET/1 a.m. BST).

The chief support billing is a significant step up for Gonzalez, ranked No. 9 by The Ring at 126 pounds, as the 24-year-old aims to seize the opportunity with another statement performance and catch the attention of the featherweight crownholders.

Gonzalez, whose last two fights have lasted a total of three rounds, including a second-round stoppage win against former title challenger Aaron Alameda in July, is gunning for a fifth-straight knockout win.

"The grind doesn't stop – boxing doesn't have seasons, and I am looking for every opportunity I can get to keep fighting year-round and to keep climbing up in the rankings," Gonzalez told The Ring.

"It's going to get to a point where we become a mandatory challenger, and these champions are going to have no choice but to fight me. I am going to force these champions to fight me. I am ready for all of the fights, and I never doubt the matchmakers at Top Rank. My head coach Robert Garcia and I say 'yes' to everyone."

Gonzalez is managed and trained by Garcia, the renowned multiple-time Trainer of the Year. The Southern California native has been training under the auspices of Garcia since he was 12.

"I'm very lucky and blessed to be able to have a manager and a coach like Robert Garcia, who not only sees the business side of boxing, but he understands what I'm going through as a fighter, because he was a fighter himself," Gonzalez said. "Robert understands how important it is to keep me fighting, even if it's not for that world title just yet."

Garcia is singing Gonzalez's praises just as loud – he believes his charge can reach similar plaudits as three-division champion Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez, who's currently ranked No. 4 on The Ring's pound-for-pound list.

"I see Chop replicating the same levels of success as Bam, one hundred percent," Garcia told The Ring. "Chop has the same level of hunger and talent as Bam has. Chop wants more and more every time, and he never gives up. He's always first in the gym, and the last one out. He's competitive to be the best at everything. They are both very similar in their approach and how bad they want it.

"Chop is very dedicated and disciplined and is always going to be in great shape for his fights. That's a big plus. And once he gets inside the ring, he's action-packed and combines an accumulation of punches very well. You can't predict what's coming because he puts everything together. It's always something different."

For Garcia, Gonzalez would become the second fighter he's taken to a world title by training and managing them from their pro debut; Rodriguez was his first.

"A lot of trainers have only one fighter, and they can't build another one," Garcia said. "I have a great team around me, and we're going to keep going. I have 15-year-olds right now who are as good and can be even better.

"But first we have to take care of business against Vasquez. It's a tough fight against an experienced fighter, and Chop has to perform. After this next fight, he's ready for any of the champions. We're ready to fight whomever. We don't want an easy route. I know how Top Rank works, and I trust them. If they say we need a couple of more fights, I'm okay with that. I believe he's ready for anyone and can beat any of the champions."

Gonzalez also realizes that he has to play the waiting game to get a crack at current champions, which include WBC titlist Bruce Carrington, WBO titleholder Rafael Espinoza, both of whom are signed with Top Rank, and the idle IBF beltholder Angelo Leo. The Ring and WBA titles are vacant.

Gonzalez is ranked No. 8 by the IBF, No. 10 by the WBO and No. 11 by the WBC, ratings which make him eligible to fight for any of the titles.

"I'll fight anyone for the world title, but if I had a choice, it would be Carrington because I believe he's the most dangerous one in the division, right next to Espinoza," Gonzalez said. "Those are the two hardest fights, and I would love to give those fights to the fans. Staying active is what's going to benefit me in these big fights and what's going to be able to give me that edge whenever I face these world champions.

"I want to be able to steal the show on Saturday, one thousand percent. I want to show the world that I'm levels above Vazquez. This fight is not easy, but I do want to make it look as easy as possible. If I see an opportunity for the finish, I'm taking it. I'm not here to play with my food."

"Kid" Vazquez, a 31-year-old Fort Worth, Texas, native, is riding a three-fight winning streak since suffering a one-sided stoppage loss against Espinoza during a title shot in May 2025. Vazquez also has highly competitive decision losses against Joe Cordina in 2023 and Raymond Ford in 2022.

"I'm not overlooking Vazquez, but the plan is for my next fight to be for a world title," Gonzalez said. "I'm not at the destination yet, and I understand that boxing is a business and that it has to make sense on both sides.

"I have to do my job and keep winning in great fashion – then I can no longer be denied. It's all in God's timing, but I have a tough test in front of me in Vazquez that I'm looking forward to passing with flying colors."