By Jake Donovan
Carlos Cuadras celebrated his six-year anniversary in the pro ranks with his first-ever major title. Not only does he still hold that super flyweight title to this day, but has every intention of maintaining that status following Saturday’s showdown with top-rated pound-for-pound entrant and reigning World flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.
The two will collide this weekend at The Forum in Inglewood, California. It will mark just the second career bout in the United States for Cuadras (35-0-1, 27KOs) as well as his debut on American cable giant HBO. He remains as unfazed by such settings as he does of the world-class opponent whom will be staring him down on fight night.
“That (Gonzalez) is favored doesn’t scare me at all,” insists Cuadras, the fighting pride of Mexico City by way of Sinaola, Mexico. “Several big favorites in boxing history have come up well short once they reach this stage. I am motivated and fully confident that my arm will be raised in victory in the end.”
It’s ended that way in every fight he’s had as a pro, 35 times to himself and the lone time with another when he fought Jose Salgado to an injury-shortened technical draw in his first title defense just over two years ago.
Interestingly, it was eerily similar to how he first won the super flyweight title, claiming a technical decision win over the artist then known as Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in May ’14. Cuadras had made his pro debut on that evening six years prior, and by night’s end became the latest from boxing-rich Mexico to claim a major title.
He did so in a bout that was perhaps his closest call to date, one that ended on a cut over his left eye due to an accidental clash of heads after eight rounds of action. Cuadras had done enough by that point to edge it on all three scorecards, beginning a run that many believe has led to his being recognized as the best super flyweight in the world.
At least until Saturday evening.
Gonzalez (45-0, 38KOs) is not only undefeated, but has never come close to losing as a pro. The closest case anyone can make – a feeble one at best, a ridiculous one in reality – is when Juan Francisco Estrada gave him all that he could handle in their epic Nov. ’12 slugfest at the now-demolished Sports Arena in Los Angeles.
It was the lone time Gonzalez has even been challenged through three weight classes, collecting major titles at each stop (strawweight, junior flyweight, flyweight) along the way as he looks to become Nicaragua’s first-ever four division champion and just the second in history – along with Venezuela’s Leo Gamez to do so from 105 to 115 lbs.
Cuadras is well aware of the level of talent and pending history that will stand opposite corner later this evening. He’s also well aware of the rich history his own countrymen have enjoyed in this very building.
“Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate, Alfonso Zamora, Julio Cesar Chavez – one and all have won big fights at The Forum,” Cuadras recalls of some of the very best to ever come out of Mexico. “I will be in a historic place for boxing (in Mexico) – and I am also coming to score a historic victory that will forever have the boxing world talking.”
In terms of significance, a Cuadras win on Saturday could rank among his nation’s biggest ever, and certainly among the classics that have taken place at The Forum. Olivares and Zamora both won their first world titles in this building, while Chavez Sr. made the first defense of his super featherweight crown at the famed locale, while collecting his third world title here in a 10th round stoppage of Roger Mayweather for the super lightweight title in their May ’89 rematch.
Cuadras’ challenge is quite different. While he’s coming in as the defending champion, he also enters as the big underdog against the boxer widely regarded as the very best in the world.
Along with his all-around greatness and the belts he’s collected along the way, further fueling Gonzalez’ cause is the motivation to win a fourth major title in honor of his mentor, countryman and hero, the late Alexis Arguello.
The legendary former three-division champ was well on his way to making history for Nicaragua before succumbing to an enhanced version of Aaron Pryor in their unforgettable Nov. 1982 classic. For 13 rounds, Arguello looked every bit the expert technician in the ring, only to prove no match for a version of Pryor who came out fueled and motivated in a high octane and fight-ending 14th round.
Arguello never looked the same after that night, nor did he ever come closer to becoming a four-division champ. Gonzalez is as high as a 9-1 favorite in some sports books to go all the way and achieve that feat.
As far as Cuadras sees it, all it means is a greater reward for those willing to invest in the diminutive 28-year old defending champ
“There are some very good odds against me, some where you can win five times the amount you bet,” Cuadras jokes of his status as the betting underdog for the first time in his career. “Those who dare, know that I will win this fight and you will be rich. Just be sure to invite me when you take your money and go out to dinner.”
That’s an invitation just about any local boxing fan will be willing to extend. By that point, Cuadras will have proven what he has believed all along to be true – that he is the baddest little man in the sport today, taking down the anointed one in order to reach that point.
“All I can say is, I never enter the ring with the intention to lose,” Cuadras comments. “This fight is no exception. It’s one I’ve wanted ever since (Gonzalez) began fighting at flyweight and when we both became champions (Gonzalez won his third divisional title in Sept. ’14, four months after Cuadras began his reign).
“I didn’t ask for this fight just to hand over my unbeaten record and the green and gold (WBC) belt to Gonzalez. I asked for it for the chance to prove that I am the best in the world today.”
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2
