By: Sean Crose
Not long ago, he was considered the best boxer in the world. He was a complete package, hitting hard, disciplined, and possessed of winning footwork. There was little doubt that Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez was, if not the pinnacle of boxing’s Mount Olympus, then at most a step or two below it. However, recent history is history, and now, at 37, Gonzalez is considered past his prime—and not without good reason. After all, he lost his second straight fight to Juan Francisco Estrada in late 2022… and he hasn’t been in the ring since.
However, Gonzalez, who returns to action this Friday in his native Nicaragua, feels he has the chops to succeed once again. Indeed, Gonzalez, 51-4, will take on 27-5 Rober Barrera at the Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in Managua. The fight, scheduled for 10 rounds, will be a bantamweight bout where Gonzalez will be hoping to claim a stunning fifth world title. His previous world titles have come at super flyweight, flyweight, light flyweight and minimumweight. Such a feat would be the culmination of an already storied career.
Is Gonzalez up to the task, do you think? The truth is impossible to tell at this point, but if Gonzalez wins this week, he will move closer to another world title shot. Despite not having nearly the same resume as Gonzalez, Barrera has won four of his last five fights. A win over a true legend like Gonzalez—in Gonzalez’s hometown, no less—would be a career-defining moment. It could very well open doors for the Colombian veteran. A win for Barrera could also bring Gonzalez’s illustrious career to an end.
However, while Gonzalez may be past his prime, it is worth remembering that he has revived his resume before. After a poor 2017, Gonzalez seemed to have completely burned out. However, he then won four in a row, capturing the WBA super flyweight title in the process. Can Gonzalez enjoy a similar comeback this time? Probably not, although it should be noted that a 37-year-old bantamweight could actually be putting himself in considerable danger by stepping into the ring – both career-wise and physically. Time is the enemy, after all.
