Interviews
EXCLUSIVE: Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez – The Humble Nicaraguan
The Contra War in Nicaragua, a bloody affair that claimed tens of thousands of lives in the 1980s, was no place to raise a child. But it produced a warrior, and Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez emerged from the devastation to become a success story.
Growing up in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, Gonzalez (50-2, 41 KOs) describes his childhood environment on proboxing-fans.com as “a very humble environment that helped me appreciate what God has given me now through my boxing career.”
“Chocolatito” emerged from the darkest places to cement his name in the history books of the sport to which he decided to dedicate his life.
He built such a legacy after overcoming every challenge in his path, becoming a four-weight world champion and coming back from adversity to regain championship honors.
Although he was a boxing fan, teenage Gonzalez was initially fascinated by football, but his fighting father decided to one day teach him this sweet science.
Once he had his chin tucked in, his fists raised high, and his feet side by side in an orthodox stance, that was it, there was no turning back, the boxing bacteria had seeped into his blood like a leech, but there was nothing to shake or drink away
Like all Nicaraguan fighters, Roman idolized Alexis Arguello. The three-division world champion retired with a record of 77-8, and his bushy mustache adorned posters in boxing gyms across the country.
Gonzalez remembers his first day at the boxing gym vividly as if it were just yesterday: “When I first went to the boxing gym, I met my idol, the greatest boxer in Nicaraguan history, Alexis Arguello.
“I was even more impressed because he spoke to me briefly and then forced me to work on my posture. It was a great moment for me.”
The current WBA “Super” 115-pound world champion watched fighters like Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad with his father, who was a boxer.
Boxing ran through the Gonzalez family veins and from a teenage age it was obvious what “Chocolatito” was destined for.
“It definitely runs in the family, but I enjoyed it because I was beating bigger opponents, which motivated me even more because I could see how proud my family was of me.”
The 33-year-old surpassed the achievements of his idol Arguello by becoming a four-time world heavyweight champion, also becoming the first fighter to do so in the four lightest weight classes.
Gonzalez, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the coming years, hopes to continue to inspire future generations.
“I believe that it is a blessing from God that gave me this talent and it is my duty to do this to the youth be a role model for them, it is a true blessing.”
In a professional career spanning 52 fights, only Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, who also fights on March 13, has defeated Roman, but the Nicaraguan leaves no bitter taste on his tongue as he looks back on his career without regret.
“I wouldn’t change a thing because I believe God’s timing is perfect.
“Everything I have been through has brought me to where I am now, and that makes me joyful, even if I had to go through a lot of difficulties.”
On March 13, Gonzalez will step into the ring against his former opponent, Juan Francisco Estrada, whom he defeated in 2012. This time, both men are world champions, meaning the rematch will be a unification fight and a fight that “Chocolatito” has been wanting for some time now.
“It’s great to be with your team and focus on one of my dream fights, it motivates me to give my all every day.
“I feel blessed to be able to unify the titles against such a great champion and friend. I’ve wanted this fight for a while now, so to get this opportunity is very motivating and I’m training very challenging to shine on this night.”
The victory may have been awarded in 2012, but now, nine years later, the task ahead is much greater. However, if Roman has learned one lesson in his career, it is this: “To never stop learning and to never underestimate your opponent.”
As he nears the end of his career, Gonzalez has already made business investments for his future. Retirement is a word that scares many boxers, but not Roman, who accepts that it is all part of God’s plan.
“I believe that only God knows when I will hang up the gloves, but for now I picture myself working on a farm and in the real estate company I started a few years ago in Nicaragua.
“I believe that everything comes to an end, but only God knows when, and I know that it will eventually come and I will accept it as long as I am sure that I have always given my all.”
Eddie Hearn believes Tyson Fury will retire after a legacy-defining clash with Anthony Joshua.
Fury stunned the boxing world on Monday when he announced his retirement from the sport, leaving behind a megafight with Joshua.
The “Gypsy King” announced his shocking decision less than a month after suffering, among other things, second defeat in a row against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyad, but Joshua’s promoter, Hearn, is convinced that the fighter from Morecambe will return to the ring to fight the long-awaited showdown with “AJ”, who is returning after a fifth-round defeat to Daniel Dubois.
“In my opinion, I think he will come back,” the 45-year-old said talkSPORT.
“But I don’t know him well enough to judge that.
“He’s coming back after two defeats, and these defeats hurt the boys.
“AJ was devastated by the defeat to Dubois and I’m sure Fury was too [with his defeats to Usyk]both are winners.
“I don’t know if Fury can leave one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport on the table.
“I know he’s a competitor. I know he will want to give the British fight fans what they want and I hope we see more of him.
“But if we don’t, God bless the speed and all the best.”
Fury hung up his gloves after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return eight months later for a third fight with Derek Chisora, whom he defeated comfortably at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn said Joshua will now look to secure a clash with the winner of the February 22 fight between his former rivals Dubois and Joseph Parker, who will fight in Riyad for the IBF heavyweight world title.
If Fury returns to fight AJ, the Matchroom boss insists the loser would have nowhere to go.
“They would both be devastated by defeat,” he added.
“It’s one thing to lose the world heavyweight title, but at the same time losing in a fight of this magnitude is the biggest bragging rights.
“At this stage of their career, the last word is goodbye.
“Whoever loses this fight is finished and whoever wins it moves on and that’s what you fight for.
“You’re not just fighting for a legacy, you’re fighting to save your career.
“It’s a huge fight, but it’s not on the table right now.”
Callum Simpson defended his British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles after a second-round victory over Steer Woodall on Saturday at the Park Community Arena in Sheffield.
Simpson (16-0, 11 KO) proved too good for Zak Chelli in his last competition and went on to sweep wide and claim the British and Commonwealth titles last August. Woodall (19-3-1, 12 KO) picked up his best career win, stopping Lerrone Richards in six rounds in an upset in Bolton last June.
This attack ended quickly in the second round, with a right uppercut that left Woodall on wobbly legs, and then another attack punctuated by another right uppercut, leaving “The Stallion” on the deck.
Despite beating the count, referee Mark Bates waved off the fight shortly afterwards.
Simpson dedicated his victory his dead sisterwho died tragically in August in a road accident.
“It’s bittersweet,” the 28-year-old said Heavenly sports after the fight.
“I won these titles in front of all my fans, but there’s one person that I think everyone knows who I wish was here, but I know she’s looking down on me and I make her proud.”
Dubois is tied with Camara
On the card below, Caroline Dubois (10-0-1, 5 KO) made her first defense of her WBC lightweight title against Canadian Jessica Camara (14-4-1, 3 KO), but the fight ended in a technical draw.
The fight was stopped due to a cut to Camara’s left eye from the head collision, and she also went down in the first round.
Forrest stops Miller
Cruiserweight prospect Scott Forrest needed just two rounds to defeat Deevorn Miller.
Miller (8-3, 6 KO) lost once in the first and second rounds, while Forrest (7-0, 4 KO) won outright.
Undercard remaining
In the featherlight heavyweight division, where Billy Deniz defeated Mickey Ellison (15-8, 5 KO) by one point.
Deniz (13-0, 5 KO) won with a score of 77-76.
In the six-round middleweight division, Sam Hickey (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Lewis Howells (3-2) three times en route to a first-round victory, and Mauro Silva (7-0, 3 KO) scored a 59-56 victory against Emmanuel Zion (6-3, 3 KOs).
Ellis Price (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam Fitzmaurice (0-1) twice en route to a first-round lightweight victory.
Lauren Price believes Natasha Jonas was pressured into fighting her ahead of their March 7 unification clash.
Price will put his WBA and IBO welterweight titles on the line when he faces IBF and WBC champion Jonas live at the Royal Albert Hall. Heavenly sports.
Jonas’ coach, Joe Gallagher, has said he would prefer to see the 40-year-old retire, and Price, who won Olympic gold in 2021, is doubtful whether her rival wants to face her.
“I don’t think either of them wanted this fight,” the 30-year-old said proboxing-fans.com.
“But like I said, she has two belts, I have three and it’s just a great fight.
“The fight is signed, sealed and announced, so on March 7 we will see who will be the best.
“If you look at my amateur record, Olympic gold medalist, I haven’t lost a single round as a professional.
“The performance I am up against [Jessica] McCaskill in Cardiff against the legitimate world champion, the proof is in the pudding.
“I’ve got it. I’m in my youth.
“She’s coming to the end of my career and I don’t blame her, but in the end she has something that I want and that’s really it, there’s nothing personal.”
Jonas secured the WBC crown with a unanimous decision victory over then-champion Ivana Habazin in December in Liverpool, moments after Price defeated Bexcy Mateus in three rounds on the same bill.
The pair then clashed during a heated post-fight interview to confirm their upcoming match.
The Welshwoman believes that her youth, speed and dominance in the ring will allow her to defeat the experienced Liverpool resident on Friday in eight weeks.
Asked what her advantage was over Jonah, Price added: “Probably my youth.
“Reading the fight, my ring IQ, my speed.
“The little feints, the triggers I do, people reading me.
“Everyone says they will do it, they will do it until I stand in front of them, so we will see on March 7.
“But overall I think I’m just better and I believe I’ll win.”
Watch the full interview with Lauren Price:
Ryan Garcia GETTING LIT at Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin DRINKING BEER & HAVING A GOOD TIME
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 • FULL PRESS CONFERENCE • London | DAZN Boxing
Robert Smith Reacts To Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn Announcement
-
MMA8 months agoMax Holloway is on a mission at UFC 212
-
MMA8 months agoCris Cyborg ready to add a UFC title to her collection
-
Interviews3 months agoCarl Froch predicts that Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
MMA8 months agoThe Irish showed up in droves at the Mayweather-McGregor weigh-in
-
Interviews3 months agoArtur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
Boxing6 months agoLucas Bahdi ready to test his skills against Ashton Sylve
-
Interviews8 months agoI fell in love with boxing again
-
Opinions & Features3 months agoDmitry Bivol: The story so far