Roman Gonzalez and Nonito Donaire in conversation to fight
LAS VEGAS – They no longer wear a world title belt, but they each stand as a four-division world champion.
Their better days are behind them, but there’s plenty left in the tank.
And as that finish-line beckons, wouldn’t it be something if they paused before it to face each other?
Nonito Donaire of the Philippines and Nicaragua’s Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez are currently in conversations to stage a fight by year’s end, Donaire told BoxingScene Saturday night before he settled in at Mandalay Bay to watch Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s majority decision victory over Serhii Bohachuk.
“I don’t know if it’s going to come through, but we’re talking,” the 41-year-old Donaire (42-8, 28 KOs) said.
Donaire, who’s won belts from flyweight to featherweight, has been out of the ring since his flat showing in a July 2023 defeat to Alexandro Santiago (28-4-5).
Yet, he’s reinvigorated by the possibility of landing a bout with 37-year-old “Chocolatito,” the former super-flyweight champion who most recently fought July 12 in his native Nicaragua after sparring with new super-flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez before his title win over Gonzalez rival, Juan Francisco Estrada.
Gonzalez (52-4, 42 KOs) is promoted by Teiken Promotions in Japan, and although Rodriguez’s American promoter, Eddie Hearn, wants an Rodriguez-Gonzalez fight, Teiken does not want the stablemates to fight.
Donaire wants Gonzalez.
“I’m just training my butt off and hoping it’ll happen,” Donaire said.
The stars seem to be aligning, said Donaire, as each fighter’s schedule is free and they share the rare achievement of each claiming world titles in four divisions.
Donaire raised his eyebrows at the opportunity to make this match.
“He fought in July, so ours would be by the end of the year,” Donaire said.
The rest is up to them.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
