A fourth fight may be warranted.
Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez gave fans another gem Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, with Estrada taking the majority decision and the 115-pound WBC title vacant in the match. their third match.
That gives Estrada a 2-1 advantage in their trio. However, not much is resolved after another competitive fight.
Roman Gonzalez (right) surged in the second half of the match but ultimately failed. Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) made a quick start, using his skill and stamina to get ahead and beat his large, slow opponent in the first half of the match. Looks like the Mexicans might run away in the fight.
And then, around the seventh round, the 35-year-old Nicaraguan turned the switch and suddenly looked like an old beast. He moved forward and made his opponent miserable for the rest of the way, maintaining a constant, choking pressure.
Estrada was successful as he stood his ground at times and even countered well when he fell behind but Gonzalez clearly came back in the 7th and 11th Round skirmish.
The fight seems to be going on in the air on the 12thorder and the final round. And that’s how both men fought, dumping all the punches left in their tiny bodies at the end of a grueling battle as cheering fans were present. crazy.
Estrada won the last stanza on all three cards, which made the match impossible to draw.
Two referees gave Estrada the win, 116-112 and 115-113. The third game was a draw, 114-114. The scores 115-113 and 114-114 would be 114-114 and 115-113 for Gonzalez if he wins in the final round, which would result in a draw.
As a result, Estrada avenged a unanimous decision loss in 2012 by disqualifying one of the greatest minor boxers of the generation last March – a controversially divisive decision – and again on Saturday.
The fourth battle between them would make sense from a competitive standpoint; only the first fight is a clear decision.
And both fighters are open to the idea. Estrada says that Chocolatito earned another shot at him. And Gonzalez said he would do it one more time if he had enough money, though he wants to consult with advisers and family before proceeding.
Gonzalez has proven he can still compete at a high level at an age where most boxers of his size have moved into second careers. He had no doubts about that Saturday. At the same time, he admits that he is nearing the end of his decorating career.
Estrada is not a child either. However, at 32 years old, he seems to have many more big games in the future.
We’ll have to wait and see if Gonzalez is part of that future or if the Mexican star will move on to rising contenders like Bam Rodriguez or one of the other title holders.
One thing is for sure: Estrada and Gonzalez gave fans an unforgettable trilogy.
