By Pablo Fletes
Triple world champion Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez, who currently holds the WBC flyweight crown, will return to the ring in Nicaragua on February 28, when he faces Mexican veteran Valentin Leon (38-28-3, 21KOs) in a ten round non-title fight. Leon has won his last four outings.
The fight is taking place at the super flyweight limit of 115-pounds, as Gonzalez begins to test the waters for a likely year-end battle with WBC super flyweight champion Naoya Inoue of Japan.
The pickings were slim for Gonzalez's return to the ring at Puerto Salvador Allende in Managua. His team tried to get other opponents, like former champion Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, who wanted at least $100,000 to come over to Managua.
Regardless, Gonzalez has equal respect for all of his opponents and never underestimates or looks down on any opponent.
"Honestly, I've always said that all opponents are good. There are none worse than the another. I always do my work in all of my fights, because my opponents have who hands like me and so we must fight with intelligence," said González. "We will see what happens when the fight comes. Leon accepted, he is willing to fight me - unlike many others who do not want to fight me."
"This fight in Nicaragua is important for me because for the third time in my career I'll fight at 115 pounds. I feel I'm going in there in good condition and that's where I'll test myself, because my goal is to win a fourth world title and then why not a fifth world title."
Pablo Fletes covers boxing for notifight.com
