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Chocolatito: "I’m So Proud To Represent Nicaragua"
Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez says he is ‘proud to have
represented Nicaragua with such dignity’ – but still has
plenty more to add to his legacy as he prepares to face Juan
Francisco Estrada in a unification rematch at the American
Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on Saturday night, live
worldwide on DAZN.
Chocolatito (50-2 41 KOs) was victorious in the first fight
with Estrada (41-3 28 KOs) in November 2012, and his final
fight as a Light-Flyweight World ruler. Two years later in
his 40th pro fight he became a three-weight World ruler by
beating Akira Yaegashi in Japan for the WBC and Ring
Magazine World Flyweight titles and his September 2016
victory over Carlos Cuadras landed him World honors at a
fourth weight with the WBC Super-Flyweight strap.
Chocolatito has always been honored to be part of the rich
boxing history in his homeland, led by one of the all-time
greats in the late Alexis Arguello, and the former
pound-for-pound king fondly remembers looking up to and
spending time with Arguello, as he looks back on a
remarkable career that he believes still has many more
chapters to be written.
“When I fought Yaegashi, the question that all of Nicaragua
had was ‘Are you on the same level as Alexis Arguello?’”
said Chocolatito. “I won that third title in Japan and then
a fourth title came, where everybody was waiting expectantly
to see if I’d win it. I trained a lot because it was one of
my dreams. And then… boom! I won the title and Nicaragua
welcomed me like never before.
“I’m so proud to have represented my country with such
dignity. And well, I’m so happy for my parents, my family.
And for Alexis, who was always there for me, teaching me the
good things about this boxing world.
“I always respected all the orders Alexis gave me because
he’s a three-time champion. It’s an honor. He was like my
father. We were very close. Sometimes he invited me to his
house, and I remember being at his house, eating and I got
relaxed, and he dropped me off at my fight and that day was
the first time that I got hit hard.
“I was scared, but I got up and I knocked the guy out. But
those are life experiences that I had with him where I
learned. Because I think, I could have not gotten up after
that punch. But due to the conditions, it made me get up
again. Alexis was a very demanding person in the gym. And
even in the fight.
“I consider myself a man who’s done the best that I could. I
had difficult times growing up but, in the end, it worked
out well. Life has taught me a lot of things, and I learned.
And I feel and think that I’ve already conquered many things
in boxing. What comes now with this title is just extra.
“I never imagined myself getting to where I am now. But wow,
it is still hard, it costs me. Because I train the right
way. I do things the way they should be done. But I like it.
And it’s what’s let me help my family. Help my kids. I don’t
complain because I thank god for where I am now.
“Life has been hard and difficult with sacrifice. My family,
my children, what makes me get up in the morning is to keep
reaping victories in boxing. Not only that, but many young
guys that want to be like the champ, like Chocolatito. But
in the end, it’s what gives you your happiness in life. What
you want to achieve in your life.
“When I retire, I will leave very satisfied and very happy
to have been able to have so much success for my kids and my
family, and also for the people of Nicaragua.”
Estrada and Chocolatito clash on a massive night of
triple-header World title action.
There’s another case of repeat or revenge as Jessica
McCaskill (9-2 3 KOs) defends the undisputed World
Welterweight title against Cecilia Brækhus (36-1 9 KOs) and
there’s a Matchroom debut on the card for Hiroto Kyoguchi
(14-0 9 KOs) as he defends his WBA and Ring Magazine World
Light-Flyweight titles against Axel Vega (14-3-1 8 KOs), and
it's a huge night for a clutch of rising talents on the
bill.
Ford (8-0 4 KOs) has been in hot form, closing 2020 out with
impressive stoppage wins in Florida and Texas and the 21
year old takes on unbeaten New Mexico talent Aaron ‘Angel
Baby’ Perez (10-0 6 KOs) over eight rounds.
Williams (7-0 6 KOs) is looking to build on his own stellar
2020 performances where he won all three of his fights via
stoppage in Miami, Mexico City and Dallas, and ‘Ammo’ will
look to continue that streak in his first eight round bout
against the experienced ‘Momma’s Boy’ Denis Douglin (22-7 14
KOs) who has shared the ring World champions George Groves,
Anthony Dirrel, David Benavidez and Jermell Charlo.
Jones III (5-0-1 2 KOs) battled to a split draw in Mexico
City in his last outing in October, and the Ohio starlet
will look to brush that off in his first eight round battle
against dangerous Texas native Jorge David Castaneda (13-1
11 KOs).
Souleymane Cissokho (11-0 7 KOs) is back in action for the
first time since September 2019 and the unbeaten Frenchman
tangles with Daniel Echeverria (21-10 18 KOs) over eight
rounds.
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