Roman Gonzalez Weighs 122.8 at 30-Day Mark For Arroyo Bout

By Jake Donovan

One day after challenger McWilliams Arroyo was confirmed to be in compliance of World Boxing Council (WBC) weight standards, the sanctioning body has revealed World flyweight king Roman Gonzalez is also on point.

The defending flyweight champion checked in at a reported weight of 122.8-pounds 30 days ahead of his April 23 showdown with Arroyo, as reported to the WBC. Arroyo’s weight was released one day prior, coming in at 120.2 lbs.

All participants in WBC-sanctioned bouts are required to submit to 30- and 7-day safety weight checks prior to a given title fight or eliminator. Boxers cannot weigh any more than 10% over the contracted limit 30 days out and no more than 5% above the limit at the seven-day mark.

As the bout is contracted at 112 lbs., Gonzalez and Arroyo could not weigh any more than 123.2-pounds for their upcoming title fight, which will air live on HBO. The flyweight scrap serves in chief support to unified middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs) in a mandatory defense versus Dominic Wade in a matchup of undefeated middleweights.

Among the hardware in Golovkin’s possession is the WBC interim title. The unbeaten knockout artist from Kazakhstan weighed in at 164-pounds, well within the tolerated 176-pound limit. A request from BoxingScene.com to confirm the 30-day weight for Wade (18-0, 12KOs) has not yet been met with a reply as this goes to publish.

Gonzalez (44-0, 38KOs) makes the fourth defense of his lineal flyweight championship, in addition to the WBC strap. The former strawweight and junior flyweight titlist successfully annexed the flyweight crown with a 9th round knockout of Akira Yaegashi in Sept. '14, joining his countryman and longtime idol, the late Alexis Arguello as famous boxers from Nicaragua to claim major titles in three weight classes.

Three successful defenses (and a non-title win) have followed for Gonzalez, a run that has included his HBO debut which came in this very venue last May. The unbeaten boxer – who has gained industry-wide recognition as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world - starched former 108 lb. titlist Edgar Sosa in two rounds, followed by a 9th round stoppage of Brian Viloria last October in his first-ever appearance at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Arroyo (16-2, 14KOs) takes a second swing at a flyweight title. His first attempt resulted in his coming up just short in a 12-round split decision to still-unbeaten International Boxing Federation (IBF) beltholder Amnat Ruenroeng in Sept. ’14, scoring a mid-fight knockdown but unable to close the show on the road in Thailand.

Just one win has followed for the Puerto Rico-based boxer, a 3rd round knockout of Victor Ruiz last April in Bayamon. Arroyo served on the 2008 Puerto Rico Olympic Boxing team along with twin brother McJoe, presently an unbeaten super flyweight titlist. The two fight one week apart, with McJoe defending his belt versus Jerwin Ancajas on April 16 on the road in Philippines.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox