Tag: Roman Gonzalez

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.

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.

“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.

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Carlos Cuadras might be the most underappreciated little man in the world.

The former junior bantamweight titleholder has fought more-celebrated rivals on roughly even terms yet seems like an afterthought their names — Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman Gonzalez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai — are mentioned.

The athletic boxer-puncher from Mexico defeated the feared Sor Rungvisai by an eight-round technical decision – after Cuadras suffered a bad cut – to win his 115-pound title in 2014 and held it for close to 2½ years.

He lost the belt to Gonzalez, No. 1 on many pound-for-pound lists at the time, by a unanimous decision in 2016 but it was an entertaining give-and-take brawl that most observers thought was close.

Then came his fight with Estrada the following year at the then-StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., the same on which Sor Ringvisai stopped Gonzalez in their rematch.

Cuadras, using his quick feet and hands, moved in to land punches and out to avoid them effectively as he built a built a lead on the cards in the first half of the fight. However, Estrada, the better technician, adjusted to Cuadras’ style and took control of the fight midway.

The fight was ultimately decided when Estrada put Cuadras down with a straight fight. All three judges scored it 114-113, meaning the fight would’ve been a draw had Cuadras stayed on his feet.

Michael Buffer initially announced Cuadras as the winner, sparking a celebration in his corner, Buffer quickly corrected the mistake and declared Estrada the winner. The loser seemed bigger afterward.

“I won the fight, I landed the harder punches,” he said immediately afterward. “No way he beat me. The knockdown was a slip, I was never hurt. I want an immediate rematch.”

Cuadras (39-3-1, 27 KOs) has been angling for a rematch ever since and now he finally has one: He and Estrada are scheduled to do it again on a card also featured Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez in separate fights Friday in Mexico City.

Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) has emerged as a pound-for-pounder since the first meeting – he’s No. 10 on the Boxing Junkie list – and holds the same 115-pound belt Cuadras once wore. Meanwhile, Cuadras, who lost a majority decision to McWilliams Arroyo after the Estrada fight, slipped out of the public eye.

If Estrada wins and Gonzalez beats Israel Gonzalez, they are expected to meet in a rematch next year. Cuadras plans to spoil the party.

“This is the fight I have been waiting for,” said Cuadras, who is coming off three consecutive victories. “I am better prepared this time. I’m throwing a lot of punches in training. I’m throwing 12 rounds of sparring with three different guys. I’m doing a lot of mitt sessions.

“I think I’m going to arrive very fast and invincible and I’m going to give the Rooster his medicine. So, let the Rooster take care because I’m going to tear his head off. It’s going to be an honor to win The Ring Magazine and WBC belt as well.”

Cuadras, looking back on the first fight, acknowledged that Estrada rallied in the later rounds, although he still insists Buffer’s first announcement should’ve been the official one. He plans to pace himself better on Friday.

“He can be a slow starter, but once he is in a rhythm, he is harder to fight,” Cuadras said. “He’s good to the body and he has a good right hand. That’s the punch he put me down with in our first fight. I gave it my all in the first rounds, so I lost my energy for the second half. I went too hard from the start.

“He’s not going to get the rematch with Chocolatito. I am going to get my rematch with him.”

[lawrence-related id=14832,14107]

Carlos Cuadras might be the most underappreciated little man in the world.

The former junior bantamweight titleholder has fought more-celebrated rivals on roughly even terms yet seems like an afterthought their names — Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman Gonzalez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai — are mentioned.

The athletic boxer-puncher from Mexico defeated the feared Sor Rungvisai by an eight-round technical decision – after Cuadras suffered a bad cut – to win his 115-pound title in 2014 and held it for close to 2½ years.

He lost the belt to Gonzalez, No. 1 on many pound-for-pound lists at the time, by a unanimous decision in 2016 but it was an entertaining give-and-take brawl that most observers thought was close.

Then came his fight with Estrada the following year at the then-StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., the same on which Sor Ringvisai stopped Gonzalez in their rematch.

Cuadras, using his quick feet and hands, moved in to land punches and out to avoid them effectively as he built a built a lead on the cards in the first half of the fight. However, Estrada, the better technician, adjusted to Cuadras’ style and took control of the fight midway.

The fight was ultimately decided when Estrada put Cuadras down with a straight fight. All three judges scored it 114-113, meaning the fight would’ve been a draw had Cuadras stayed on his feet.

Michael Buffer initially announced Cuadras as the winner, sparking a celebration in his corner, Buffer quickly corrected the mistake and declared Estrada the winner. The loser seemed bigger afterward.

“I won the fight, I landed the harder punches,” he said immediately afterward. “No way he beat me. The knockdown was a slip, I was never hurt. I want an immediate rematch.”

Cuadras (39-3-1, 27 KOs) has been angling for a rematch ever since and now he finally has one: He and Estrada are scheduled to do it again on a card also featured Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez in separate fights Friday in Mexico City.

Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) has emerged as a pound-for-pounder since the first meeting – he’s No. 10 on the Boxing Junkie list – and holds the same 115-pound belt Cuadras once wore. Meanwhile, Cuadras, who lost a majority decision to McWilliams Arroyo after the Estrada fight, slipped out of the public eye.

If Estrada wins and Gonzalez beats Israel Gonzalez, they are expected to meet in a rematch next year. Cuadras plans to spoil the party.

“This is the fight I have been waiting for,” said Cuadras, who is coming off three consecutive victories. “I am better prepared this time. I’m throwing a lot of punches in training. I’m throwing 12 rounds of sparring with three different guys. I’m doing a lot of mitt sessions.

“I think I’m going to arrive very fast and invincible and I’m going to give the Rooster his medicine. So, let the Rooster take care because I’m going to tear his head off. It’s going to be an honor to win The Ring Magazine and WBC belt as well.”

Cuadras, looking back on the first fight, acknowledged that Estrada rallied in the later rounds, although he still insists Buffer’s first announcement should’ve been the official one. He plans to pace himself better on Friday.

“He can be a slow starter, but once he is in a rhythm, he is harder to fight,” Cuadras said. “He’s good to the body and he has a good right hand. That’s the punch he put me down with in our first fight. I gave it my all in the first rounds, so I lost my energy for the second half. I went too hard from the start.

“He’s not going to get the rematch with Chocolatito. I am going to get my rematch with him.”

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