Kal Yafai – Syndication Server

Boxing Junkie Mid-year Awards: Tyson Fury is the man

Boxing Junkie presents its mid-year awards in six categories.

A most unusual year is half over. The coronavirus pandemic brought the boxing world to a halt in March and it has only begun to return in the past few weeks.

Still, some fighters have had enough time – particularly in the first few months of the year – to turn in performances worthy of recognition.

With that in mind, Boxing Junkie presents its mid-year awards in six categories. Here they are.

FIGHTER

Tyson Fury

Slam dunk. Fury and Deontay Wilder fought to a controversial draw in December 2018. The rematch, on Feb. 22 in Las Vegas, wasn’t even competitive. A bulked up Fury, employing a more-aggressive strategy, dominated the then-titleholder from beginning to end. He put Wilder down in Rounds 3 and 5 and finally stopped him in Round 7. Fury just never gave Wilder and chance to unload his big right hand. It was a virtuoso performance in a super fight, which made the accomplishment all the more spectacular.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario

FIGHT

Robert Helenius (right) took a giant step forward with his KO of Adam Kownacki. AP Photo / Frank Franklin II

Robert Helenius TKO 4 Adam Kownacki, March 7

Helenius vs. Kownacki was nuts from the opening bell, as most Kownacki fights are. The Polish-American came out firing away, as usual. The thought at that moment: “OK, here we go. How long is Helenius going to be able to survive?” Then, as the fight progressed: “Wait a second, Helenius doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and he’s fighting back.” In Round 4, the Finn put Kownacki down with a right-left combination and then followed with a flurry of hard shots and the fight was stopped. Whew. Crazy. Really fun to watch.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario vs. Julian Williams, Jan. 18

KNOCKOUT

Ryan Garcia KO 1 Francisco Fonseca, Feb. 4

Tyson Fury’s stoppage of Deontay Wilder was the most important knockout so far. Garcia gave us the most spectacular KO. Garcia, the charismatic 21-year-old lightweight contender, had already generated a great deal of intrigue with two early knockouts in 2019. He simply added to the excitement against the veteran Fonseca. A single left hook relieved the Nicaraguan from his senses and took our breath away only 80 seconds into the fight.

Runner up: Fury KO 7 Wilder

UPSET

Jeison Rosario was overwhelmed when his new championship belts were placed over his shoulders. Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions

Jeison Rosario TKO 5 Julian Williams

Williams’ stature going into the Jan. 18 fight was what made Rosario’s thorough victory special. Remember, Williams, the then-junior middleweight titleholder, was coming off a career-defining victory over Jarrett Hurd eight months earlier. He had climbed onto some pound-for-pound lists. And Rosario beat the you-know-what out of him. Rosario hurt Williams about two minutes into Round 5 and followed with a brutal barrage of hard shots that forced the referee to end the fight and give Rosario the title.

Runner up: Robert Helenius TKO 4 Adam Kownacki

COMEBACK

Roman Gonzalez

The former No. 1 fighter pound-for-pound had already won back-to-back fights since he lost consecutive bouts to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the second loss being a brutal knockout. Still, many had doubts about whether the 32-year-old Nicaraguan remained an elite fighter. He proved against then-unbeaten junior bantamweight titleholder Kal Yafai on Feb. 29 that he has plenty more to give. He gave Yafai a boxing lesson for eight-plus rounds and then stopped him in Round 9. Vintage Gonzalez.

Runner up: Mikey Garcia UD 12 Jessie Vargas, Feb. 29

BREAKOUT

Joseph Diaz Jr.

Diaz, the former U.S. Olympian, had failed in attempts to win a major title and a secondary one, losing a decision to Gary Russell Jr. and then failing to make weight before outpointing Jesus Rojas, which precluded him from winning the belt. Some wondered whether Diaz would ever get over the hump. And then he did. Then-junior lightweight titleholder Tevin Farmer was one of the hottest fighters around yet an inspired Diaz took him to school, winning a decision that wasn’t as close as the cards indicate to finally claim a belt.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario TKO 5 Julian Williams

Is Roman Gonzalez demanding unrealistic payday for Juan Estrada rematch?

Roman Gonzalez might be pricing himself out of an intriguing matchup with Juan Francisco Estrada.

Gonzalez is asking for $1 million for the fight even amid the coronavirus pandemic, which precludes the possibility of live audiences for the time being. And DAZN, which has deals with both fighters, reportedly is suffering financially.

Fernando Beltran, who promotes Estrada, says Gonzalez’s demand leads him to believe he doesn’t really want to fight his rival again.

“Sometimes it’s easier to say that [he wants an unrealistic payday] than saying that he doesn’t want the fight,” Beltran told ESPN Deportes. “And maybe he forgets the summary of his career in his last five fights.

“We as promoters want to give the public what they want and we take care of the economic conditions of our fighter. The priority here is to say that we are ready, the negotiations will come later.”

Gonzalez (49-2, 41 KOs) and Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) fought in November 2012, with Gonzalez winning a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. A lot has changed since then.

Some figured Gonzalez, a four-division titleholder and former pound-for-pound king, was finished as an elite fighter when he lost back-to-back fights to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the second time by a brutal fourth-round knockout.

However, he rebounded to win three consecutive fights, the last an impressive ninth-round stoppage of then-unbeaten Kal Yafai on Feb. 29.

Meanwhile, Estrada, a two-division champion, has climbed onto some pound-for-pound lists. He’s 14-1 since the Gonzalez fight and avenged his only defeat during that stretch by outpointing Sor Rungvisai in April of last year.

Report: Roman Gonzalez vs. Juan Francisco Estrada in works

Matchroom Boxing is planning to stage a 115-pound title-unification fight between Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada.

A title-unification showdown between Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada appears to be in the works.

The Athletic reported that Matchroom Boxing plans to stage its first post-lock down show in the United States in July or August. The Gonzalez-Estrada fight, a rematch of their 2012 fight, would take place sometime soon after that on DAZN.

Gonzalez defeated Estrada by a unanimous decision in a surprisingly competitive fight eight years ago, when Gonzalez was an undefeated junior flyweight titleholder and Estrada a less-known, but gifted contender.

A lot has happened since then. Gonzalez lost back-to-back fights to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the second loss ending in a brutal knockout. Gonzalez bounced back to regain a junior bantamweight title by stopping Kal Yafai in February but is no longer on pound-for-pound lists.

Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) is on those lists. The Mexican is 14-1 since he lost to Gonzalez, winning titles in two divisions along the way. He won a 115-pound title by outpointing Sor Rungvisai in their rematch in April of last year.

Sor Rungvisai defeated Estrada by a majority decision in February 2018.

Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman Gonzalez discuss prospective showdown

Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez gave their thoughts on a prospective showdown during the first episode of “Peleamundo.”

Juan Francisco Estrada surprised many people when he gave Roman Gonzalez spirited resistance in 2012, losing a decision in his first title fight.

A lot has happened since then.

Estrada has won titles in two divisions and gained recognition as one of the best fighters in the world. He’s No. 9 on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list. Gonzalez, once No. 1 worldwide, lost back-to-back fights to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017 – the second time by brutal knockout – but is coming off a sensational KO of Kal Yafai in February.

Now Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) and Gonzalez (49-2, 41 KOs) appear to be headed toward a title-unification rematch. The fighters gave their thoughts on the prospective showdown during the first episode of “Peleamundo,” Mathroom Boxing’s new YouTube show. Welterweight contender Jessie Vargas is the host.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_F_cgTlqyG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“I’ve had three losses and I’ve avenged two of them,” said Estrada, who last year regained the 115-pound title he lost to Sor Rungvisai in 2018. “I haven’t been able to avenge my loss to Gonzalez yet because we never fought again, but hopefully this time around, I will win, and that loss will be avenged as well.

“I’m the champ. I have a lot of respect for him. It’s a big fight and we both deserve big purses.
Everything looks and sound good but it’s all about the money. We’re friends and both fighting for our families. I want to unify if I’m given the opportunity. I’ll fight whatever opponent is available. I know there will be some good fights made by the promoters.

“I don’t know Yafai personally, however I do know Roman, and he’s a great champion. I know he had a lot of support from the people of Nicaragua. I was happy for him because he’s such a humble person. Without a doubt I was with Roman Gonzalez in that fight.

“It’s been eight years [since the first fight] and I’m very excited for this fight. I believe the people really want to see it as well. I’m a great fighter. It’s going to be a great show. It’s going to be a better and bigger fight than the bigger weight classes.”

Said Gonzalez: “I’m a lion in the ring. We put in the work to win but after we can be friends, and everything will go back to normal. It’s going to be a very good fight. Everyone talks before the fight but all that matters is the day of the fight.

“We both need to just demonstrate to the public that the lighter weight divisions can put on a good show. We’re the ones carrying boxing right now, the smaller weight classes, and if I fight Estrada, it’s going to be historical.”

The 2020 year-end award leaders as of today

These are the fighters to beat in selected year-end categories so far in 2020.

The year in boxing has been limited to two-plus months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result, not many elite boxers have had the opportunity to fight in 2020. Some did, though. And a few of those made massive statements in the ring before the sport was shut down completely last month.

Of course, it’s too early to determine who will win year-end awards. After all, the sport almost certainly will resume sometime in the next several months.

That said, these are the fighters to beat in selected categories so far.

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

Tyson Fury

Slam dunk. Fury and Deontay Wilder fought to a controversial draw in December 2018. The rematch, on Feb. 22 in Las Vegas, wasn’t even competitive. Fury, employing a more-aggressive strategy, dominated the then-titleholder from beginning to end. He put Wilder down in Rounds 3 and 5 and finally stopped him in Round 7. Fury just never gave Wilder and chance to unload his big right hand. It was a virtuoso performance in a super fight, which made the accomplishment all the more spectacular.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario

***

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR

Ryan Garcia KO 1 Francisco Fonseca

Tyson Fury’s stoppage of Deontay Wilder was the most important knockout so far. Garcia gave us the most spectacular. Some background: Garcia, the charismatic 21-year-old lightweight contender, had already generated a great deal of intrigue with two early knockouts in 2019. He simply added to the excitement against the veteran Fonseca on Feb. 4. A single left hook relieved the Nicaraguan from his senses and took out breath away only 80 seconds into the fight.

Runner up: Fury KO 7 Wilder

***

UPSET OF THE YEAR

Jeison Rosario TKO 5 Julian Williams

Williams’ stature going into the Jan. 18 fight was what made Rosario’s thorough victory special. Remember, Williams, the then-junior middleweight titleholder, was coming off a career-defining victory over Jarrett Hurd eight months earlier. He had climbed onto some pound-for-pound lists. And Rosario, a Dominican, beat the you-know-what out of him. Rosario hurt Williams about two minutes into Round 5 and followed with a brutal barrage of hard shots the forced the referee to end the fight and give Rosario the title.

Runner up: Robert Helenius TKO 4 Adam Kownacki

***

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR

Roman Gonzalez

The former No. 1 fighter pound for pound had already won back-to-back fights since he lost consecutive bouts to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the second loss being a brutal knockout. Still, many had doubts about whether the 32-year-old Nicaraguan was still an elite fighter. He proved against then-unbeaten junior bantamweight titleholder Kal Yafai on Feb. 29 that he has plenty more to give. He gave Yafai a boxing lesson for eight-plus rounds and then stopped him in Round 9. Vintage Gonzalez.

Runner up: Mikey Garcia UD 12 Jessie Vargas

***

BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR

Joseph Diaz Jr.

Diaz, the former U.S. Olympian, had failed in attempts to win a major title and a secondary one, losing on the cards to Gary Russell Jr. and failing to make weight before outpointing Jesus Rojas, which precluded him from winning the belt. Some wondered whether Diaz would ever get over the hump. And then he did. Then-junior lightweight titleholder Tevin Farmer was one of the hottest fighters around yet an inspired Diaz took him to school, winning a decision that wasn’t as close as the cards indicate to finally claim a belt.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario TKO 5 Julian Williams

Good, bad, worse: Welcome back, Chocolatito

Roman Gonzalez reached into his glorious past to break down and then knock out unbeaten Kal Yafai on Saturday in Frisco, Texas.

GOOD

Never underestimate a great fighter.

Roman Gonzalez seemed to be finished as top-tier star when he lost back to back fights to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, including a brutal fourth-round knockout in the second meeting. The death of his longtime trainer and a knee injury that required surgery seemed to seal his fate as a has-been.

“Chocolatito’s” career had run its course. Too old (32), particularly for such a small fighter. Too shop worn, the result of many wars. And too small. He seemed to hit a weight ceiling.

Yes, it was a tall order to think such a little, worn out man could take down unbeaten and rising junior bantamweight titleholder Kal Yafai on the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas card Saturday in Frisco, Texas.

Turned out there were two more factors not everyone took into account: ability and determination.

Gonzalez looked a lot like the pre-Sor Rungvisai Gonzalez against Yafai, who learned the hard way how good one of his boxing idols could be in the flesh. Gonzalez outworked Yafai (landing twice as many power punches as the Englishman), broke him down in brutal fashion and ultimately knocked him out in the ninth round.

The moment Gonzalez’s big right hand put a beaten Yafai down and out in the ninth round was a flash back to a time when the Nicaraguan was considered an absolute marvel. Vintage “Chocolatito.”

Is it time to put him back onto our pound-for-pound lists? No, not yet. Probably not ever again. But he gave us at least one last demonstration of why he has been one of the greatest fighters – in any division – of his generation.

And who knows? He might have more such performances in him. Fighters like Sor Rungvisai and Juan Francisco Estrada await. I wouldn’t put anything past “Chocolatito.”

BAD

Mikey Garcia (right) was able to handle Jessie Vargas but how would he fare against the likes of Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia? Tom Pennington / Getty Images

There was nothing “bad” about Mikey Garcia’s performance against Jessie Vargas on Saturday. He should be applauded for a solid comeback victory.

The “bad” could describe what might follow.

I believe Garcia proved against a solid opponent that he remains an elite fighter, one who arguably deserves to be on pound-for-pound lists. He fought patiently early in the fight, had his best moments in the middle rounds – including a fifth-round knockdown – and was strong at the finish.

The result: scores of 114-113, 116-111 and 116-111 in his favor. Well deserved.

The problem is that Vargas, as big as he was compared to Garcia, isn’t equal to the likes of Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman. They are true 147-pounders but also better than Vargas, which is where Mikey Garcia ran into trouble in his previous fight.

Spence dominated him en route to a shutout decision in March of last year, which raised questions about the ability of a natural 140-pounder – if that – to compete against an elite welterweight. He got past Vargas. But how would Mikey Garcia do against Porter, Danny Garcia or Thurman?

It might not turn out pretty. Yes, the big, lucrative fights are at 147 but there also is money to be made at 140. That’s where he belongs.

That said, there is one welterweight who wouldn’t have a natural size advantage over Mikey Garcia: the 41-year-old Manny Pacquiao, who also is not a natural 147-pounder. That fight would come down to ability, not any physical advantages.

And Garcia might just have enough of it to give Pacquiao trouble if he gets that fight. He could become a titleholder in a fifth division yet.

WORSE

It will be difficult for Deontay Wilder to bounce back from the beating he took from Tyson Fury on Feb. 22. Al Bello / Getty Images

Deontay Wilder formally exercised the clause in his rematch contract with Tyson Fury that provides for a third fight between them.

That makes sense from a business standpoint, at least in the short term. If he doesn’t take it now, there are no guarantees he’ll ever get a crack at Fury again. And, of course, he’ll make more money in Fury-Wilder III than any other fight.

The decision makes less sense from a boxing standpoint. How could he possibly turn the tables on Fury after what we saw on Feb. 22?

He’s in a similar position to Anthony Joshua after he was stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr. I thought it was a mistake for Joshua to take an immedaiate rematch because of the conclusive nature of the first fight. I thought it would be smarter to rebuild his confidence in one or two less-challenging fights and then face Ruiz again.

Well, we know what happened. Joshua didn’t give an inspiring performance but he thoroughly outboxed a sadly out of shape Ruiz in the rematch to regain the titles and clout he lost in the first fight.

The Wilder-Fury situation is different. Most important, Ruiz is no Fury. No one could outbox the “Gypsy King.” And, at least in terms of boxing ability, Wilder is no Joshua. I’m not sure he can make adjustments necessary to make a third fight with Fury more competitive then their second other than wear a lighter costume into the ring.

I think Fury would have to pull a Ruiz for Wilder to beat him, meaning he would have to enter the ring utterly unprepared for a fight. Fury has a history of volatility but, when it comes to boxing, I don’t see him entering the ring at that sort of disadvantage.

Crazy things happen in boxing, though. And the thought of Wilder beating Fury in their third fight is crazy.

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai to return against Amnat Ruenroeng on April 4

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai is coming back from a one-year layoff on April 4 against former flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng in Bangkok.

Roman Gonzalez is back. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai is about to follow him.

Rungvisai (47-5-1, 41 KOs) is coming back from a one-year layoff on April 4 against former flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng (20-3, 6 KOs) in Bangkok, WP Boxing announced this weekend.

It’ll be Sor Rungvisai’s first bout since he lost his junior bantamweight title in a narrow decision to Juan Fransciso Estrada last April 26 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

The comeback sets up a potential third fight between Sor Rungvisai (47-5-1, 41 KOs) and Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs). Sor Rungvisai won a majority decision over Estrada in February 2018.

It also creates another potential trilogy at 115 pounds. Gonzalez put himself back into mix with a victory over Kal Yafai for a junior bantamweight title on the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas card Saturday in Frisco, Texas.

Gonzalez, once atop pound-for-pound lists, lost back to back fights against Sor Rungvisai in 2017.

Roman Gonzalez stops Kal Yafai in 9th round

Roman Gonzalez is back on top of the junior bantamweight division after he beat up Kal Yafai, stopping him in the ninth round…

He’s back.

Roman Gonzalez, perhaps the most accomplished fighter of the lower weight classes of the past decade, is a junior bantamweight titleholder once again after he stopped undefeated Khalid Yafai in the ninth round Saturday night at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco Texas on the Mikey Garcia-Jesse Vargas card.

“God gave me my title back,” Gonzalez, now a two-time 115-pound titlist, said postfight.

It was more like a mugging.

The Nicaraguan, who has earned titles in four weight classes, sliced and diced Yafai on the inside all fight long, strafing the Birmingham native with a deluge of short punches. By Round 9, Gonzalez had softened up Yafai like a marshmallow. With one well-placed right hand, he sent Yafai crashing to the canvas. The defending titleholder tried to get up, but stumbled, prompting referee Luis Pabon to wave off the bout 29 seconds into the round.

The win marks a remarkable turnaround for a fighter who is already a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame someday. After suffering two back-to-back losses Thailand’s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, including a hellacious drubbing in the rematch, in 2017, Gonazalez has had to overcome several other setbacks, notably surgery to his knee and the death of his longtime trainer. There was some concern that Gonzalez would never be the same, given the wear and tear of nearly 50 fights at 32 years of age.

But as far removed as he may be from his prime, against Yafai, Gonzalez was clearly in top form.

“When I lost (to Sor Rungvisai), yes (it was tough), but I had a good team around me and they brought me back,” Gonzalez said. “I thank first and foremost (promoter) Mr. (Akihiko) Honda and Eddie Hearn for giving me the opportunity to become a world champion once again.”

It didn’t take long for flashes of the vintage Gonzalez (48-2, 40 KOs) to appear in the ring. Rifling one fluid combination after another on the inside in Round 2, Gonzalez briefly troubled Yafai (26-1, 15 KOs) with an uppercut the Birmingham native. Gonzalez said he was surprised that Yafai, known for his preference for fighting on the outside, was willing to trade punches in the trenches.

Gonzalez began to take over beginning in Round 5. He administered a serious beating of Yafai in Round 7, courtesy of a series of unanswered right hands and followed up with more of the same in the next round. By this point, Yafai was simply on borrowed time.

The victory could set up some intriguing rematch possibilities for Gonzalez, chief of which is a unification bout with fellow titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada. Gonzalez defeated Estrada back in 2012. It would be a relatively easy fight to make, considering both fighters are aligned with broadcaster DAZN and promoter Hearn.

Another one is a rematch against Sor Rungvisai, who is also aligned with DAZN/Hearn.

Gonzalez welcomed both options.

“I want to try to unify some titles, that’s my dream,” he said.

Roman Gonzalez faces stiff test against titleholder Kal Yafai

Kal Yafai will defends his junior bantamweight title against future Hall of Famer Roman Gonzalez on the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas card.

Is this Roman Gonzalez’s last stand?

“Chocolotito” is scheduled to challenge unbeaten junior bantamweight titleholder Kal Yafai on the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas card Saturday night in Frisco, Texas on DAZN.

Not long ago, Gonzalez would’ve been the favorite in such a fight … in any fight. After all, the Nicaraguan dynamo was No. 1 on most credible pound-for-pound lists and considered a surefire first-ballot inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

That was then.

Gonzalez crashed down from his perch in two fights with Thai rival Wisaksil Wangek (Srisaket Sor Rungvisai) in 2017, a major decision in March that laid bare his vulnerability and then a brutal fourth-round knockout in September that turned his career upside down.

He has never the same. Conventional wisdom was that his climb in weight – from as light as 104¼ pounds to 114½ against Wangek – as well as father time (he’s 32 now) had caught up with him. Another factor might’ve been the death of longtime trainer Arnulfo Obando in November 2016, which plunged Gonzalez’s into mourning.

Bottom line: The unstoppable little monster from Central America was gone.

“The knockout to Rungvisai was rock bottom,” Carlos Blandon, Gonzalez’s longtime advisor, told ESPN.com. “Roman had lost his trainer and then he lost the title to Rungvisai in the first fight and then the knockout loss in the second fight. Everything was disintegrating.

“We had to start all over. Now we have a really solid team and we are a couple of days from being champion again and everybody feels very excited.”

Gonzalez (48-2, 40 KOs) also had to deal with bad luck.

He took a year off after the second fight with Wangek to pull himself together and rest. That seemed to rejuvenate him. In his first fight back, in September 2018, he stopped former strawweight titleholder Moise Fuentes in five rounds in a scheduled eight-round junior bantamweight fight.

That was a strong statement by Gonzalez, who hadn’t won a fight in two years. Then, after the Fuentes victory, he was struck by the misfortune: He tore cartilage in his right knee while jogging and required surgery, which kept him out of the ring for another 15 months.

Finally, this past Dec. 23, he returned once again and stopped relative unknown Diomel Diocos in two rounds. The victory didn’t prove much other than to announce he was back but it set up the fight with Yafai, who will be making the sixth defense of his 115-pound title.

The 2008 Olympic from England is only two years younger than Gonzalez but he’s had less wear and tear. And, having never fought below the junior bantamweight division, he’s the naturally bigger man.

Yafai (26-0, 15 KOs) is only a slight favorite but that might be because of Gonzalez’s name more than anything else.

“I’m in the best condition for this fight,” Gonzalez said. “I will take advantage of this opportunity. There’s not a small person in this fight, everyone is very good. I come with a blessing that I will win. Thank you and hope this sport of boxing will be a spectacle for everyone.”

We’ll see whether this a new beginning for Gonzalez or the end.

Roman Gonzalez gets his wish, will face Kal Yafai for title

Roman Gonzalez, the lightest fighter ever ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound, will face junior bantamweight champion Kal Yafai on Feb. 29.

The second step in Roman Gonzalez’s path back to the top is official.

Gonzalez, who fought for the first time in more than a year last month, returned to Nicaragua after a victory over Filipino Diomel Diocos on Dec. 23 in Japan saying he wanted a shot at a world title in his next fight.

Wish granted.

Gonzalez (48-2, 40 KOs), the lightest fighter ever ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound, faces junior bantamweight champion Kal Yafai (26-0, 15 KOs) on the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas card Feb. 29 in Frisco, Texas on DAZN.

Matchroom Boxing made the announcement on Thursday.

“God has responded to my prayers once again,’’ said Gonzalez, who scored a second-round stoppage of Diocos in his first bout in 15 months since knee surgery. “I want to thank God and Teiken [Promotions] foremost. Also, the champion, Kal Yafai, for giving me the opportunity to fight for the championship once again.”

Gonzalez got the title shot instead of Australian Andrew Moloney despite a formal objection from attorney Pat English. English argued that Moloney had earned the title shot. He scored an eighth-round stoppage of Miguel Gonzalez on Mar. 22 in Chile in what was designated as a fight for the right to be the mandatory challenger.

For Yafai, the bout against Roman Gonzalez represents an opportunity to enhance his record against a big name.

“Chocolatito is someone that I have idolized as I worked my way up to become world champion myself,’’ Yafai, a U.K. fighter, said. “So, it doesn’t get much bigger than this, and it will bring out the best in me. I can’t wait.

“It is a case of when idols become rivals.’’