Finally.
The rematch between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez has arrived and boxing fans, casual and hardcore, are looking forward to both little giants performing at its best inside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas (DAZN, 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT).
Almost eight and a half years ago, both fighters thrilled the thousands of fight fans inside the now-demolishes Sports Arena in Los Angeles. Estrada dropped down from 112 pounds to challenge Gonzalez, who was defending his WBA junior flyweight titleholder that night.
Gonzalez was the more-effective fighter early in the fight, outboxing Estrada with pinpoint accuracy. Sensing he was down in the fight, Estrada rallied late in the fight to make it close, losing by unanimous decision.
Since that rainy night in November 2012, both fighters took different paths that saw peaks and valleys.
Estrada would challenge then-WBA/WBO flyweight titleholder Brian Viloria in April 2013, winning by split-decision. Ironically, Viloria also fought on the same card as the first Gonzalez-Estrada fight, defeating Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez by knockout in a unification fight.
The 30-year-old Estrada (41-3, 28 knockouts), who resides in Hermosillo, Mexico, would five title defenses of the two world title belts before moving up to 115 pounds, where he has excelled. Estrada would defeat Carlos Cuadras in September 2017, but would lost a close majority decision to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai the following February.
Since the loss, Estrada would win his next five bouts, including avenging the loss to Sor Rungvisai.
Gonzalez (50-2, 41 KOs), who resides in Managua, Nicaragua, would go on to win world title belts in two more weight classes after defeating Estrada, defeating the likes of then-WBC flyweight titleholder Akira Yaegashi in 2014, Edgar Sosa and Brian Viloria in 2015. He would defeat Carlos Cuadras in September 2016 in an action fight, winning the WBC junior bantamweight title.
The 33-year-old would lose back-to-back bouts against Sor Rungvisai, the first by a disputed decision that many thought Gonzalez did enough to win. Less than six months later, Gonzalez was brutally knocked out by Sor Rungvisai in round 4.
There were calls for Gonzalez to retire, which would not have been a shame, considering the career he had that would likely lead to him entering the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the first year of eligibility. After taking some time off from the sport, Gonzalez returned to the ring a year later, earning two victories before challenging WBA junior bantamweight titleholder Khalid Yafai last February 29. In impressive fashion, Gonzalez battered Yafai, dropping him twice before ending matters in round 9.
In his last bout on October 23, Gonzalez defeated Israel Gonzalez by unanimous decision.
Both Estrada and Gonzalez are still on top of their game. Estrada is the slight betting favorite going into tonight’s fight, but the fight could play out in several different ways.
Estrada and Gonzalez could both pick up where they left off during that competitive 12th round back in November 2012, but the action could start out slow before it opens up more during the middle rounds.
As competitive as this fight is and the rivalry that has been building since their first fight, there is significant respect between the two fighters. Each fighter understands the other’s strengths and intangibles in the ring.
“Juan is a good champion, and we know what we have to,” said Gonzalez at Thursday’s press conference. “We want to give a good fight for everyone to watch. I’m very conscious it’s going to be a beautiful fight.
“I think both countries are going to be paralyzed on Saturday watching these fights and hopefully we give a good fight. We can go back home to our families and may the best man win.”
Estrada, who recently got married, has been itching for the rematch against Gonzalez since their first fight. While Estrada promises he will avenge his loss, he also believes the rematch will be a better action fight than first one.
“I’ve been waiting for this fight for almost nine years (and) I’ve been ready for the opportunity. He’s a good champ, he’s a good fighter and may the best man win.
“It’s going to be exciting and I’m concentrating on giving a good fight on Saturday. This is going to be better than the first one. It’s going to be a war and the people watching will be the real winners.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.
