HBO/K2 Discuss the Possibility of Chocolatito-Estrada 2

By Steve Kim

Back in November of 2012 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, Roman Gonzalez - then the WBA 108-pound titlist - held off the game challenge of the previously unknown Juan Francisco Estrada.

Since that defeat, the Mexican has become the unified flyweight champion (with the WBO and IBF belts in his possession) and built his own fearsome reputation.  A rematch between the two in 2016 would be one of the most anticipated fights for the hardcore fans.

So what are the chances of it coming to fruition?

While Estrada has become a respected world champion,'Chocolatito' has added to his own belt collection (winning the WBC flyweight title) and beyond that, becoming an HBO staple who has brought his act to the United States to rave reviews. He is now being co-promoted by K2 Promotions and Teiken and has co-headlined with Gennady Golovkin as he defeated Edgar Sosa and Brian Viloria in his last two outings.

Tom Loeffler, the managing director of K2 said last Saturday at a media gathering for Gonzalez:

"I think from the promoter's side that would be one of the anticipated fights for next year because they had such a great fight when they had he first fight. Estrada has two titles, as well, in the flyweight division so that would be a great unification bout."

As always, much of this will come down to how much a network - in this case, HBO - is willing to pony up for it.

"We're talking over a lot of scenarios still in terms of what Roman's progressions in 2016 is going to be," said Peter Nelson, Vice President of Sports Programming for HBO Sports.

"A lot of it is seeing what his team wants to do in 2016 and one of the great things about fighters like Roman and Gennady  - as well as the teams behind them - is that they are always willing to fight everybody and they're willing to fight them at anytime. So when there's a real press reaction to a particular fight and then that generates the fans really being behind something, then it's time to make it happen."

Gonzalez-Estrada II would most likely be on a platform like 'Boxing After Dark'.

''I'm waiting for next year to see what's coming," said Gonzalez, who has a sterling mark of 44-0 (38 KO's). "I thank God, Teiken, HBO and K2, who have given me the opportunity to fight here in the States."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.