Roman Gonzalez takes next step in unlikely comeback Friday

Roman Gonzalez continues his remarkable comeback against Israel Gonzalez on Friday in Mexico City.

Roman Gonzalez was the toast of the boxing world late in 2016. “Chocolatito” was No. 1 pound for pound on most lists, he was unbeaten and seemingly untouchable and he was a four-division world titleholder.

And then, in what seemed like an instant, it all came crashing down on the little Nicaraguan.

First, longtime trainer and father figure Arnulfo Obando died of a stroke at only 54 years old in November 2016. Then, the following March, Gonzalez lost a majority decision to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai at Madison Square Garden in New York. Six months after that, in the rematch, Sor Rungvisai scored a brutal knockout in the fourth round.

Gonzalez, who had brought little fighters back to prominence, now seemed to be finished at 30 years old.

He considered retirement, which many observers figured was a good idea based largely on his last performance. Instead, he simply stepped away for a year. That gave him time to properly grieve for Obando, gather his thoughts and regroup.

Roman Gonzalez’s career as an elite fighter seemed to come to an end when he was stopped by Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in September 2017. AP Photo / Chris Carlson

During that time he also found a trainer with whom he’s comfortable: Marcos Caballero, the father of former bantamweight world titlist Randy Caballero.

“There were some very sad moments,” Gonzalez told ESPN before his fight with Khalid Yafai this past February, referring to the loss of Obando. “But that is what life teaches you. That is what God teaches you. You don’t have to have your head down. You always have to raise your head and look to the future.

“Right now, I have Marcos Caballero with me, and he has most of the qualities that Arnulfo had.”

When he returned, he looked a lot like the “Chocolatito” of old, the one who blasted out the vast majority of his opponents from his pro debut in 2005 up to the disappointing fights against Sor Rungvisai.

He stopped capable Moises Fuentes in five rounds in September 2018 and Diomel Diocos in two last year to set up a shot at the unbeaten Yafai’s junior bantamweight title in Frisco, Texas. The result was vintage Gonzalez: Yafai, overwhelmed by a better fighter, went down twice and didn’t make it out of the ninth round.

“Chocolatito” was back.

Gonzalez, spoke to Bad Left Hook through a translator about the Yafai fight.

Gonzalez put Khalid Yafai down twice and stopped him in the eighth round to regain a major 115-pound title in February. Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

“I felt that I had accomplished one more dream in my life,” he said. “I didn’t have anything to prove to anyone, just to myself and my team. I am thankful with God that he gave me the opportunity to fight such a great champion that I admire, and it was an honor to share the ring with him.

“The rest of the people will always have their opinions, and I respect them, but I’m not concerned about them.”

The next chapter of the comeback takes place Friday in Mexico City, where Gonzalez (49-2, 41 KOs) faces Israel Gonzalez (25-3, 11 KOs) on a card that also features a rematch between Juan Francisco Estrada and Carlos Cuadras.

If Roman Gonzalez and Estrada win on Friday, they’re expected to meet in a 115-pound title-unification fight and rematch of their competitive 2012 meeting – won by Gonzalez – early next year.

And if Gonzalez wins that fight? He’d once again be king of the smallest fighters. He’d probably climb back onto pound-for-pound lists. He’d be the “Chocolatito” of old, which would’ve seemed impossible as he lay on his back after Sor Rungvisai knocked him out three years ago.

You could call it one of the more remarkable comebacks in recent years.

[lawrence-related id=14107,6725,14832]

Roman Gonzalez takes next step in unlikely comeback Friday

Roman Gonzalez continues his remarkable comeback against Israel Gonzalez on Friday in Mexico City.

Roman Gonzalez was the toast of the boxing world late in 2016. “Chocolatito” was No. 1 pound for pound on most lists, he was unbeaten and seemingly untouchable and he was a four-division world titleholder.

And then, in what seemed like an instant, it all came crashing down on the little Nicaraguan.

First, longtime trainer and father figure Arnulfo Obando died of a stroke at only 54 years old in November 2016. Then, the following March, Gonzalez lost a majority decision to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai at Madison Square Garden in New York. Six months after that, in the rematch, Sor Rungvisai scored a brutal knockout in the fourth round.

Gonzalez, who had brought little fighters back to prominence, now seemed to be finished at 30 years old.

He considered retirement, which many observers figured was a good idea based largely on his last performance. Instead, he simply stepped away for a year. That gave him time to properly grieve for Obando, gather his thoughts and regroup.

Roman Gonzalez’s career as an elite fighter seemed to come to an end when he was stopped by Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in September 2017. AP Photo / Chris Carlson

During that time he also found a trainer with whom he’s comfortable: Marcos Caballero, the father of former bantamweight world titlist Randy Caballero.

“There were some very sad moments,” Gonzalez told ESPN before his fight with Khalid Yafai this past February, referring to the loss of Obando. “But that is what life teaches you. That is what God teaches you. You don’t have to have your head down. You always have to raise your head and look to the future.

“Right now, I have Marcos Caballero with me, and he has most of the qualities that Arnulfo had.”

When he returned, he looked a lot like the “Chocolatito” of old, the one who blasted out the vast majority of his opponents from his pro debut in 2005 up to the disappointing fights against Sor Rungvisai.

He stopped capable Moises Fuentes in five rounds in September 2018 and Diomel Diocos in two last year to set up a shot at the unbeaten Yafai’s junior bantamweight title in Frisco, Texas. The result was vintage Gonzalez: Yafai, overwhelmed by a better fighter, went down twice and didn’t make it out of the ninth round.

“Chocolatito” was back.

Gonzalez, spoke to Bad Left Hook through a translator about the Yafai fight.

Gonzalez put Khalid Yafai down twice and stopped him in the eighth round to regain a major 115-pound title in February. Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

“I felt that I had accomplished one more dream in my life,” he said. “I didn’t have anything to prove to anyone, just to myself and my team. I am thankful with God that he gave me the opportunity to fight such a great champion that I admire, and it was an honor to share the ring with him.

“The rest of the people will always have their opinions, and I respect them, but I’m not concerned about them.”

The next chapter of the comeback takes place Friday in Mexico City, where Gonzalez (49-2, 41 KOs) faces Israel Gonzalez (25-3, 11 KOs) on a card that also features a rematch between Juan Francisco Estrada and Carlos Cuadras.

If Roman Gonzalez and Estrada win on Friday, they’re expected to meet in a 115-pound title-unification fight and rematch of their competitive 2012 meeting – won by Gonzalez – early next year.

And if Gonzalez wins that fight? He’d once again be king of the smallest fighters. He’d probably climb back onto pound-for-pound lists. He’d be the “Chocolatito” of old, which would’ve seemed impossible as he lay on his back after Sor Rungvisai knocked him out three years ago.

You could call it one of the more remarkable comebacks in recent years.

[lawrence-related id=14107,6725,14832]