Comments Thread For: Roman Gonzalez Expects Tough Fight in HBO Debut

[crold1]

The Valentin Leon fight was an absolute joke. Nobody can deny that.

Why would they? Who cares? It was a stay busy, NON-TITLE fight to make a home appearance. Chavez used to take fights like that just to kill time between title fights and let the fans see him back home. Lots of smaller guys do it now in places like Thailand.

He's fought Estrada, Rodriguez, Yaegashi, and now Sosa in a little less than three years. And Sosa is a good debut fight on HBO. Would people be happier if he just didn't fight (like most guys). More activity usually means more stay busy guys. Sosa is 14-2 since moving to Fly, has had some nice wins there, and only lost to a pair of really good fighters. He's still a top 5-6 guy in one of the best 2-3 divisions in boxing.

Gonzalez has a chance to build market and get more big fights. He's only 27. Not a bad spot.

[crold1]

Gonzales is good but with questionable opposition. Next, he is facing Sosa who not only has already 8 defeats but is almost 36 yr old and has faded considerably in the last 4-5 yrs. Somebody posted that that fight would have been very competitive few years ago (2009-2010 but Gonzales had the minimum weight belt then and there was no way Sosa could've get to 105 pounds).

8 defeats when though? Context counts. Sosa's 39-3 since 2003 and his one stop loss over that stretch had some controversy. He probably never beats Roman, but he's not shot by any stretch and still a legit top ten guy in one of the better classes in boxing. It's a good first fight on HBO.

And HBO is investing a little in a Flyweight for the first time since Arce (who they only sort of ever invested in when he moved up). He's going to have a chance to create a platform for even more big fights and he's already got several quality wins.

[Aztekkas]

Why would they? Who cares? It was a stay busy, NON-TITLE fight to make a home appearance. Chavez used to take fights like that just to kill time between title fights and let the fans see him back home. Lots of smaller guys do it now in places like Thailand.

He's fought Estrada, Rodriguez, Yaegashi, and now Sosa in a little less than three years. And Sosa is a good debut fight on HBO. Would people be happier if he just didn't fight (like most guys). More activity usually means more stay busy guys. Sosa is 14-2 since moving to Fly, has had some nice wins there, and only lost to a pair of really good fighters. He's still a top 5-6 guy in one of the best 2-3 divisions in boxing.

Gonzalez has a chance to build market and get more big fights. He's only 27. Not a bad spot.

Who cares? We do. This guy is a top 5 pound for pound in today's list and has been fighting inexcusable competition for several years now. Estrada and Rodriguez Jr would be notable wins if they had accomplished anything at 108 lbs prior, but they had not. Like it was stated before, Roman is banking off of Estrada's and Rodriguez accomplishments.. which they achieved in two separate weight divisions and after their showdowns with Gonzalez… Yet he gets full credit as if he beat some massive stars. Merlito and Viloria made them the recognisable names they are now, Roman just fed off of them when they were relatively unaccomplished. See the difference?

Are you seriously trying to sell us Sosa as a good fight? Seeing as how Roman has been feasting on no hopers lately(Aside from Akira, his best win in some time), I wouldn't be surprised if an ancient Sosa made Roman work for his win.

[crold1]

Who cares? We do. This guy is a top 5 pound for pound in today's list and has been fighting inexcusable competition for several years now. Estrada and Rodriguez Jr would be notable wins if they had accomplished anything at 108 lbs prior, but they had not. Like it was stated before, Roman is banking off of Estrada's and Rodriguez accomplishments.. which they achieved in two separate weight divisions and after their showdowns with Gonzalez***8230; Yet he gets full credit as if he beat some massive stars. Merlito and Viloria made them the recognisable names they are now, Roman just fed off of them when they were relatively unaccomplished. See the difference?

Are you seriously trying to sell us Sosa as a good fight? Seeing as how Roman has been feasting on no hopers lately(Aside from Akira, his best win in some time), I wouldn't be surprised if an ancient Sosa made Roman work for his win.

It wasn't inexcusable. He got turned down by several guys and had to chase the mandatory at 112. Every guy whose good doesn't have market control to demand any fight when they want it. If Leon had been a title fight, I'd see mocking it. It wasn't. He was making an appearance.

Sosa isn't Inoue or Estrada II but it's a fine match with a still-legit contender and could get us closer to both (and HBO is interested in both of those). Who has had an easy time with Sosa? Yaegashi and Wonjongkam beat him clear, but he had moments in both.

And while timing can affect how wins are credited. Jones-Hopkins, McCallum-Jackson, and Jackson-Norris are examples of that. Those are all still bad ass wins. Estrada beat Viloria just months after fighting Roman. That was clearly a top flight win.

They are either good fighters are not. They weren't making their pro debuts.

And Rodriguez has fought most of his career at 112; that was a solid non-title win and not even competitive. You have more of a point on him that Estrada but even he was in a title a couple fights later.

If Roman isn't AS good as some think (and no one would suggest that he's not very good regardless), we're about to probably find out. He's got enough wins in his favor to suggest believing the hype is ok.

[Aztekkas]

It wasn't inexcusable. He got turned down by several guys and had to chase the mandatory at 112. Every guy whose good doesn't have market control to demand any fight when they want it. If Leon had been a title fight, I'd see mocking it. It wasn't. He was making an appearance.

Sosa isn't Inoue or Estrada II but it's a fine match with a still-legit contender and could get us closer to both (and HBO is interested in both of those).

And while timing can affect how wins are credited. Jones-Hopkins, McCallum-Jackson, and Jackson-Norris are examples of that. Those are all still bad ass wins. Estrada beat Viloria just months after fighting Roman. That was clearly a top flight win.

They are either good fighters are not. They weren't making their pro debuts.

And Rodriguez has fought most of his career at 112; that was a solid non-title win and not even competitive. You have more of a point on him that Estrada but even he was in a title a couple fights later.

If Roman isn't AS good as some think (and no one would suggest that he's not very good regardless), we're about to probably find out. He's got enough wins in his favor to suggest believing the hype is ok.

Rodriguez has looked "meh" at 112 and didn't accomplish crap until he boiled down to 105, where he had success in attaining and unifying belts against two highly ranked champions. Estrada had to come down to 108 lbs in order to get the title shot and his success at 112 has absolutely no relation with Roman.

Again, I fail to see how those two names would have such a massive impact on Roman's resume… all though they were not "debuting" or what not… they were fairly unproven on a World Stage against a world class opponent. Akira is his best win in some time and although Sosa isn't a horrid choice, it's far from being a "great" one.

I never claimed he wasn't good, all I'm saying is his resume is lacking and his hype is blinding his followers. Estrada may be my favourite active fighter, but that doesn't change the fact that he has fought 2 subpar foes in his last couple of fights. In fact, he looked like garbage against a novice Alvarez…

However, you have Roman fans claiming it's fine to fight a "busy" fight as long as it's a non title fight in Nicaragua He's fpf King in the future doe.

[crold1]

Rodriguez has looked "meh" at 112 and didn't accomplish crap until he boiled down to 105, where he had success in attaining and unifying belts against two highly ranked champions. Estrada had to come down to 108 lbs in order to get the title shot and his success at 112 has absolutely no relation with Roman.

Again, I fail to see how those two names would have such a massive impact on Roman's resume… all though they were not "debuting" or what not… they were fairly unproven on a World Stage against a world class opponent. Akira is his best win in some time and although Sosa isn't a horrid choice, it's far from being a "great" one.

I never claimed he wasn't good, all I'm saying is his resume is lacking and his hype is blinding his followers. Estrada may be my favourite active fighter, but that doesn't change the fact that he has fought 2 subpar foes in his last couple of fights. In fact, he looked like garbage against a novice Alvarez…

However, you have Roman fans claiming it's fine to fight a "busy" fight as long as it's a non title fight in Nicaragua He's fpf King in the future doe.

Whereas I had no issue with Estrada. He fought a non-title fight to stay busy off a big fight with Segura; no biggie. Last week, he was going soft anyways but he got a replacement of a replacement. It happens. The division overall is still strong and I think we'll see both guys in where they should be this year (just like we did last fall).

[thecomedian2]

I wouldn't be surprised if an ancient Sosa made Roman work for his win.

he beat Estrada Deal With it..

[Hougigo]

Why would they? Who cares? It was a stay busy, NON-TITLE fight to make a home appearance. Chavez used to take fights like that just to kill time between title fights and let the fans see him back home. Lots of smaller guys do it now in places like Thailand.

He's fought Estrada, Rodriguez, Yaegashi, and now Sosa in a little less than three years. And Sosa is a good debut fight on HBO. Would people be happier if he just didn't fight (like most guys). More activity usually means more stay busy guys. Sosa is 14-2 since moving to Fly, has had some nice wins there, and only lost to a pair of really good fighters. He's still a top 5-6 guy in one of the best 2-3 divisions in boxing.

Gonzalez has a chance to build market and get more big fights. He's only 27. Not a bad spot.

Wasn't that fight free too?

[Aztekkas]

Whereas I had no issue with Estrada. He fought a non-title fight to stay busy off a big fight with Segura; no biggie. Last week, he was going soft anyways but he got a replacement of a replacement. It happens. The division overall is still strong and I think we'll see both guys in where they should be this year (just like we did last fall).

I respect you, crold1.

A replacement for a replacement for another crap fight against a washed up Marquez. Saludar would have been a "meh" fight, possibly at the same level of the Alvarez fight but I would have preferred a decent name. McWilliams would have been a good one, Casimero too.. hell even Fuentes or Hernandez since they moved up but they were unsuccessful in locking any significant fight down.

Hopefully both Roman and Estrada land some good fights this year. I would love to get the rematch but who knows if that will happen anytime soon. If Roman is truly going after Inoue, I hope he takes on some good names at 115 before jumping in there with a gun blazer himself. People seem to believe Roman will sweep 115 but I think otherwise. Roman is relatively small and 115 has quite a few talented and lanky opponents.

I believe Roman caps at 115, 118 would genuinely surprise me. He does rehydrate to 124 plus on fight night so I can be wrong, but his height and reach wouldn't due him too many favours.

If Inoue doesn't recover from his hand injury before the year's end I would love to see Roman vs Cuadras. Aren't they both promoted by the same company? If so.. I'd figure it would be quite easy to make and it could be an intriguing replacement scrap for the Inoue showdown. Zolani vs Gonzalez would be a great fight as well but Tete would pose some significant problems for the tiny Roman.

[Aztekkas]

he beat Estrada Deal With it..

Great points. You further displayed your ******ity and limited knowledge regarding the weight division aside from one name. Being able to successfully prove so much within one sentence is truly and outstanding feat.