By Miguel Rivera
WBA/WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco 'Gallo' Estrada (33-2, 24KOs) is not a believer in the pound-for-pound hype being pushed on WBC champion Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez (44-0, 38KOs).
Gonzalez returned last Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where he stopped Brian Viloria in nine rounds. Estrada defeated Viloria by split decision in early 2013, but says the Filipino boxer is no longer the same fighter that he once was.
Gonzalez won a twelve round decision over Estrada in 2012 at junior flyweight. He says the Mexican champion was his "toughest opponent" but claims he wasn't properly prepared for the contest. Estrada felt some struggles at that weight and moved up soon after to flyweight.
After the recent retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr., several major outlets have bestowed Gonzalez with the honor of being the number one pound-for-pound fighter in boxing.
"Honestly it was a good fight, but I expected that. I knew that it was going to be, but Viloria is not the same [from when I faced him, and Chocolatito has not evolved that much [since we fought]. He is not the big deal that they are saying he is, the best pound-for-pound and all that," Estrada told ESPN Deportes.
"He is not an invincible fighter. I believe there are defects to find in every individual and in a second fight things will be different. In every fight [since I faced Gonzalez] I've noticed a difference in myself. I guarantee that a second fight will be a fight that the public will enjoy much more."
