Former two-division titleholder Jessie Vargas will host Matchroom Boxing’s new Spanish-language interview show “Peleamundo.”
Matchroom Boxing USA has announced the imminent launch of a Spanish-language series “Peleamundo.”
Former two-division titleholder Jessie Vargas will host the show, which will appear on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel “Peleamundo.” Vargas will interview the biggest Spanish-speaking fighters in the Matchroom stable and others.
That includes Juan Francisco Estrada, Julio Cesar Martinez, Roman Gonzalez and Amanda Serrano, as well as prospects Diego Pacheco, Alexis Espino and Marc Castro.
Vargas also will speak to legends of the sport, celebrity boxing fans and fans in general in his #AskJessie section.
The show is set to launch this coming weekend.
“I am so excited to be part of this new series ‘Peleamundo’ with Matchroom Boxing USA,” Vargas said. “There is a wealth of elite level and rising Hispanic fighters in the Matchroom Boxing USA stable and the Latino fight fans are some of the most knowledgeable and passionate followers of our great sport. I can’t wait to bring them exclusive interviews with their favorite fighters and also get the fans on the show to answer the questions they have.
“As the show develops, I hope to be talking to some of the real greats of the game and my favorite fighters, as well as going behind the scenes at Matchroom Boxing USA shows. It’s going to be a blast!”
Said promoter Eddie Hearn: “I am delighted to bring ‘Peleamundo’ to the Hispanic fight fans. There are so many fantastic fighters with a Latin flavor, and I am sure that we will create some fantastic exclusive content with both the launch interviews with some of the biggest names in the game and when Jessie hits the road at our shows.
“Not only will we hear from current World champions like Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez, but it is also a brilliant opportunity to introduce our young fighters like Diego Pacheco, Alexis Espino and Marc Castro to a new audience.”
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.
Boxing Junkie staffers are trying to have some fun while the sport is on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. One of the questions fans love to ask even amid a busy schedule is, “Who would win if …?” With that in mind, we decided to create …
Boxing Junkie staffers are trying to have some fun while the sport is on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the questions fans love to ask even amid a busy schedule is, “Who would win if …?” With that in mind, we decided to create our own “Who Wins?” feature, in which we pit a single fighter against each of five potential opponents and indicate who we believe would win the fights.
In this installment of Who Wins?, our staffers’ give their takes on how Sor Rungvisai would do against Juan Francisco Estrada (in a third fight), Roman Gonzalez (also for the third time), Nayoa Inoue, Kazuto Ioka and Kosei Tanaka. We then tally Sor Rungvisai’s record in those fights and present our standings.
Sor Rungvisai, a huge puncher, was already an accomplished champion when he first outpointed and then stopped the great Roman Gonzalez in back-to-back fights in 2017, making him a major player among little fighters worldwide.
We want to acknowledge that the choice of possible opponents is subjective. We’re looking for the best possible but also realistic foes for our featured boxers. One caveat: We won’t consider promotional and managerial rivalries that often stand in the way of the best matchups. And we’re operating under the assumption that none of our featured boxers will fight with ring rust as result of their forced coronavirus-related layoff.
The plan is to work our way down our pound-for-pound list each day. That means our featured fighter tomorrow will be No. 15 Leo Santa Cruz.
So here goes: Sor Rungvisai vs. his five potential opponents.
***
SOR RUNGVISAI (47-5-1, 41) VS. ESTRADA (40-3, 27 KOs)
Juan Francisco Estrada (left, against Victor Mendez) is 1-1 against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. John McCoy/Getty Images)
Rosenthal: A third fight between these two warriors is a no-brainer. Estrada rallied in the first fight to make it close but came up short. Sor Rungvisai, who inexplicably fought mostly from an orthodox stance, did the same in a losing cause in the rematch. Part III? Estrada, 29, has the more recent victory and momentum while Sor Rungvisai, 33, might have leveled off. Estrada by a close, but clear decision.
Frauenheim: Estrada lost a majority decision to Sor Rungvisai, then beat him by unanimous decision14 months later, both at 115. Estrada learned enough in the first fight to make the right adjustments. In the rematch, he figures to have learned even more. Estrada, unanimous decision.
Nam: Although Sor Rungivsai committed a grave tactical error in their rematch – the decision to go orthodox instead of his natural southpaw stance for more than three quarters of the bout – he ended up giving Estrada a run for his money the last few rounds. The third fight is closer if Sor Rungvisai relies on his natural instincts. Estrada will come out much the same, firing on all cylinders. But the Thai fighter has one of the better chins in the game and eventually he’ll wear out Estrada. Sor Rungvisai by close decision.
***
SOR RUNGVISAI VS. GONZALEZ (49-2, 41 KOs)
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (right) seems to have Roman Gonzalez’s number. Jeff Gross / Getty Images
Rosenthal: Gonzalez’s victory over Kal Yafai was impressive but let’s not get carried away. Yafai isn’t Sor Rungvisai. And Gonzalez isn’t quite the fighter he was. Sor Rungvisai knocked Gonzalez out cold the last time they met. Gonzalez will probably make adjustments and could be more competitive but it still won’t end well for him. Sor Rungvisai by late KO.
Frauenheim: All of the momentum is with Sor Rungvisai. He scored a majority decision over Gonzalez in March, 2017. He knocked him out six months later in Carson, California. Gonzalez was at his best at flyweight. The physical Sor Rungvisai is stronger at junior bantamweight. Sor Rungvisai, late-round stoppage.
Nam: If Gonzalez can steer clear of getting waylaid by Sor Rungvisai’s right hook, he has a decent chance of notching a decision. That doesn’t seem likely, though, given Sor Rungvisai’s superiority in size, power and perhaps most of all his chin. If Gonazlez can’t hurt Sor Rungvisai, he will be hardpressed to hear the final bell. Morever, Gonzalez’s pressure-fighting style does should create plenty of openings for Sor Rungvisai. Sor Rungvisai by late stoppage.
***
SOR RUNGVISAI VS. INOUE (19-0, 16 KOs)
Nonito Donaire (left) proved that Naoya Inoue is human. Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP via Getty Images
Rosenthal: Sor Rungvisai had one of the most impressive streaks in boxing in 2017 and 2018, stopping Roman Gonzalez twice and outpointing Juan Francisco Estrada in consecutive fights. He hasn’t done much since, beating two journeymen and then losing a decision to Estrada in their rematch. The ability and the power still lurk, though. If he could carry that power from 115 to 118, he’d have a chance against Inoue. In the end, though, Inoue’s szie and superior skill set wins the day. Inoue by clear decision.
Frauenheim: Other than his Fight of the Year battle with Nonito Donaire, Inoue’s toughest fight could be Sor Rungvisai. He’s strong. Physicality isn’t exactly a word, but Sor Rungvisai defines it. He could hurt Inoue, who has the skill to elude him. He’s athletic enough to move and smart enough to adjust, all enough for Inoue to win a split decision.
Nam: If Sor Rungvisai demonstrates that his cast iron chin can hold up at 118 pounds, he will give Inoue some trouble. He’ll push the pace and throw left hand haymakers as Inoue tries to maneuver around the ring and land his potshots. Without the skillset to match Inoue’s, Sor Rungvisai will end up taking a lot of punishment. Inoue by decision.
***
SOR RUNGVISAI VS. IOKA (25-2, 14 KOs)
Kazuto Ioka has the all-around skills and heart to give Sor Rungvisai trouble. Bherouz Mehri / AFP via Getty Images
Rosenthal: Ioka is a well-schooled, fleet boxer-puncher who can compete with anyone at his weight. Sor Rungvisai is no exception. Ioka will do well early, sticking, moving, perhaps building up a lead on the cards. But the stronger Sor Rungvisai will wear him down and ultimately pull away to win a close decision.
Frauenheim: Ioka has power along with foot and hand speed. He’s resilient. He’s 2-0 since losing a debatable split decision to Donnie Nietes. But resilience might not be enough against Sor Rungvisai’s overall strength. Sor Rungvisai, late-round stoppage.
Nam: Ioka has been able to carve up mid-level fighters by working behind his jab and mixing in hard body shots. He’s a solid technician. Alas, that won’t be enough against the Sor Rungvisai, who is is bound to find a home for his hard left and rights. Sor Rungivisai by late stoppage.
***
SOR RUNGVISAI VS. TANAKA (15-0, 9 KOs)
Japan’s Kosei Tanaka (left against Jonathan Gonzalez) is one of the most gifted young fighters in the world. Jiji Press / AFP via Getty Images
Rosenthal: Tanka, 24, has accomplished so much in a short time for a reason: He’s one of the most talented young fighters in the world. He has good fundamentals, a high boxing IQ and unusual dynamism. Sor Rungvisai has edges in experience and punching power but very often the more-gifted fighter emerges victorious. And that’s Tanaka, who wins by a close decision.
Frauenheim: Tanaka is an emerging star. He’s 24, nine years younger than Sor Rungvisai. He has nine KOs on his 15-0 resume. He faces a mandatory challenge for a 112-pound belt from Ioka. He has all of the momentum, enough leverage to keep a bout vs. Sor Rungvisai in Japan. Tanaka, unanimous decision.
Nam: Tanaka’s mobility and boxing ability is going to win him some of the early rounds, but the young Japanese titleholder propensity for trading will undo him in the end. Recall that Sho Kimura, a hardscrabble but unremarkable fighter, was able to land plenty of leather on Tanaka in their 2018 barnburner. Tanaka is going to be swallowing a lot of flush left hands. Sor Rungivsai by decision.
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 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 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.
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, 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.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told iTV Monday that he is trying to put together a fight between Roman Gonzalez and Kal Yafai.
Román Gonzalez’s plans for 2020 already appear to be coming together, just one week after scoring a second-round stoppage of Diomel Diocos in his first bout in more than a year in Japan.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told iTV Monday that he is trying to put together a fight between Gonzalez and Kal Yafai in a junior bantamweight bout on a DAZN card featuring Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas on Feb. 29 in Frisco, Texas.
Hearn is looking at Gonzalez as a leading possibility for Yafai in the wake of news that Juan Francisco Estrada suffered a hand injury in training. Estrada, who holds a 115-pound belt, is scheduled for surgery. He is expected to be out until at last May.
“Now, this is the fight that I’m trying to make for Feb. 29 on the Mikey Garcia (card),’’ Hearn said.
Hearn still hopes for an eventual Yafai fight against Estrada. If Hearn is able to negotiate a deal with Gonzalez’s promoter,
of Teiken, Yafai would first have to beat Gonzalez, a former pound-for-pound champion nicknamed Chocolatito.
“If he can beat Chocolatito, then he goes into the Estrada fight in great shape in terms of his earning potential and star power,’’ Hearn said.
Upon his return to Nicaragua last week, Gonzalez (47-2, 39 KOs), the lightest fighter to ever be voted No. 1 in the pound-for-pound debate, named Yafai as somebody he would like to fight next. He also mentioned Kazuto Ioka and Estrada.
Yafai (26-0, 15 KOs), of the U.K., has made five title defenses of a 115-pound belt he won when he beat Luis Concepcion on Dec. 10, 2016.
Roman Gonzalez is re-energized after his first fight in more than a year and confident he’ll be back in the hunt for a world title in 2020.
Roman Gonzalez arrived back in Nicaragua this week, re-energized after his first fight in more than a year and confident he’ll be back in the hunt for a world title in 2020.
Gonzalez, sidelined for 15 months with a knee injury, returned to the ring Monday in Japan, scoring a second-round stoppage of Diomel Diocos in a junior bantamweight fight in Yokohama.
The 32-year-old Gonzalez (47-2, 39 KOs), the lightest fighter to ever be ranked No. 1 in the pound-for-pound rankings, was welcomed back to Managua, his hometown, by fans and media. He said he hopes to fight again in February or March.
“Possible fighters I could face are Kazuto Ioka, Khalid Yafai and Juan Francisco Estrada,’’ he said. “But I want to be champion again and then unify titles with Estrada because good purses would come for such fights.”
At his training camp for Diocos, in Coachella, California, Gonzalez manager Carlos Blandon said the former junior flyweight, flyweight and junior bantamweight champ looked sharp.
“Roman is highly-motivated,’’ Blandon said. “His knee is back to normal or even better. Roman is eager is showcase that his knee is in great condition after surgery and that with God’s help he will be king once again. We understand it takes one step at a time, but he is more than ready.’’
