By: Sean Crose
He certainly looked like an accomplished man back in 2017. There he was, sprawled on the ring, just destroyed by Sirksaret Sor Rungvisai – his second straight loss. Perhaps people have good reason to feel that Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez is no longer a force. After all, he’s pushing towards thirty, not a young age for boxers active in the lighter weight arena, like Chocolatito once was. Furthermore, the future Hall of Famer has become physically larger while facing greater challenges. Chocolatito’s battle last year with Carlos Cuadras was not an easy one for the Nicaraguans. Once again, Chocolatito looked like a complete man as he lay crumpled at Sor Rungvisai’s feet.
It was then… since that time, everything has changed. First, Chocolatito took a year off from the game. The man then went on to win four matches in a row, three of which were at long distances. Finally, Chocolatito slipped mid-rope last year to face Juan Francisco Estrada for the second time. At stake are the WBA and WBC super flyweight titles. Although he ultimately lost the match due to a controversial decision, it was clear to everyone that Chocolatito was back in shape – at least to a large extent.
Chocolatito-Estrada 3 was then destined for a discount, but Covid 19 knocked Estrada out of this opportunity. In the hands of WBC flyweight boxer step by step is Julio Cesar Martinez, and last weekend he and Chocolatito took down in San Diego. It was certainly a class of complete mastery of the veteran Chocolatito, as he completely overpowered his young opponent. While no one can argue that Martinez is a game, tough and skilled, he simply cannot match a fighter of Chocolatito’s caliber. Using a sharp defence, relentless pressure and launching shots with laser precision, the four-time champion dominated and beat Martinez for most of the game in the second half. twelve. Needless to say, the referees ruled in Chocolatito’s favor after the final bell rang.
Sometimes fans just need to step back and wonder about a boxer’s achievements. Not only has Chocolatito won titles in four tournaments, he has now returned from the abyss to reassert himself as one of the sport’s recognized dynamic greats. The man’s second act actually adds to the legacy his first act established. Very few people can achieve greatness. Even less can achieve it twice. Chocolatito is now the company of a few.
