INGLEWOOD, Calif. Roman Gonzalez observed the raucous scene in the ring through swollen eyes. His battered ears absorbed the cheers from thousands of fans celebrating his arrival at the apex of Nicaragua's boxing history.

Chocolatito had to put in 12 rounds of punishing work for his latest world title, which only made it all the sweeter. Gonzalez won a championship in his fourth weight class Saturday night, taking a unanimous decision over Carlos Cuadras to claim the WBC 115-pound belt at the Forum.

The Nicaraguan pound-for-pound star better known by his nickname persevered through a brutal slugfest with Cuadras, who was outstanding on the biggest stage of his career. The fighters traded big shots and frenetic flurries all night, but Chocolatito's remarkable skills earned the victory on all three judges' cards: 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

"It was a very difficult fight," Gonzalez said through a translator. "It was complicated. We both came in with great conditioning. This is the most difficult fight I've had."

Gonzalez acknowledged he had been thoroughly tested by Cuadras (35-1-1), who fearlessly took the star's biggest shots in a name-making performance.

Gonzalez wanted the fourth title to avenge Alexis Arguello, the most accomplished boxer in Nicaragua's history and a longtime mentor to Gonzalez before his death in 2009. Arguello fell just short of a title in a fourth weight class during two memorable losses to Aaron Pryor 34 years ago.

"I will never be better than Arguello," Gonzalez said. "He is the teacher. I am his son. He will always be number one."