Roman Gonzalez: record, next fight and profile →
By Corey Erdman - FRISCO, TX - Forty eight hours before fight day, Roman Gonzalez is asked how he believes he will defeat Kal Yafai, in tactical terms. Gonzalez slings his left arm back behind his chair, slumps back casually and laughs as he simply says “I've got to throw a lot of punches.” “Chocolatito” wore a look and demeanor just like that all through...
Former four division world champion Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez (49-2, 41 KOs) turned back the clock as he beat down and knocked out unbeaten Kal Yafai (26-1, 15 KOs) in the ninth round to capture the WBA super flyweight world title.
Roman Gonzalez, Kal Yafai Fight Photos Gallery - In the main event of a thrilling Matchroom Boxing USA fight card live on DAZN and in front of 11,019 passionate fans at the Dallas Cowboys headquarters, Mikey Garcia (40-1, 30 KOs) outlasted Jessie Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KOs) in an action-packed welterweight showdown on Saturday night. (photos by Ed Mulholland)
FRISCO, Texas – Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez gave every skeptic emphatic proof Saturday night that he has championship-caliber boxing left in his 32-year-old body. Nearly 2½ years after suffering a brutal knockout defeat, Gonzalez won another super flyweight world title by beating up the previously undefeated Kal Yafai and viciously knocking him out in the ninth round. Gonzalez’s crushing right hand knocked Yafai flat on his back early in the ninth round, so hard that referee Luis Pabon almost immediately waved an end to their scheduled 12-round, 115-pound title fight on the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas undercard.
Chocolatito, Kal Yafai Scorecard BoxingScene Live - Ahead of the huge welterweight event headlined by four-division world champion Mikey Garcia against two-division world champion Jessie Vargas, the fighters hit the scales for the official weigh-in before entering the ring on Saturday night – live on DAZN. (photos by Ed Mulholland, Amanda Westcott).
An almost certain Hall of Fame career doesn’t happen overnight. Over the course of almost nine years, Roman Gonzalez made his happen with a flair that marked him as special by hardcore fight fans from the moment he tore through Yutaka Niida for his first belt at 105 lbs. There was something different about Gonzalez, so different that it forced the world to take notice in a way they often don’t so low on the scale.
Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez has no doubt his upcoming fight will end with a world title back around his waist. Not entirely clear is where he will go from there, although the suggested route could very well allow him to remain among present company. The former four-division titlist and one-time pound-for-pound king enters a dangerous title challenge versus 115-pound beltholder Khalid ‘Kal’ Yafai (26-0, 15KOs). The two collide this weekend live on DAZN from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, in supporting capacity to a 12-round welterweight clash between former multi-division titlists Mikey Garcia (39-1, 30KOs) and Jessie Vargas (29-2-2, 11KOs).
Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez is a shoe-in to one day enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. He can retire right now, wait the required five-year period, then celebrate with family and friends as he is inducted on a Sunday afternoon in June.
One week after the heavyweight division restored its king, Roman ' Chocolatito' Gonzalez hopes to reclaim his place atop the lower weight division empire. The former four-division titlist and one-time pound-for-pound king enters his first title fight in nearly 30 months as he faces England’s Khalid Yafai (26-0, 15KOs). Their junior bantamweight clash serves in supporting capacity to a loaded DAZN-streamed card this Saturday from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Chocolatito, Kal Yafai Weights Photos Gallery - Ahead of the huge welterweight event headlined by four-division world champion Mikey Garcia against two-division world champion Jessie Vargas, the fighters hit the scales for the official weigh-in before entering the ring on Saturday night – live on DAZN. (photos by Ed Mulholland, Amanda Westcott)