Not all trilogies are created equal. But a rivalry poised at one win apiece, with each previous meeting being a genuine Fight of the Year contender? That’s a proper reason for a third bout. Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez and Francisco Estrada’s trilogy fight this weekend carries all the hallmarks of a potential classic.
Gonzalez won their eye-watering first meeting in 2012, retaining the WBA flyweight belt in an absolute nailbiter. It was nine years until their next clash, when Estrada returned the favour with a split decision win to unify the WBA, WBC and The Ring super flyweight titles. Now they go again for the latter pair of straps.
This is about more than championships though. After two all-time classics, this third meeting will see the winner go down in history for clinching one of boxing’s great trilogies. If the bout is even half as good as the others they have shared, fans are in for a treat.
Here’s everything you need to know about the best fight 2022 has left to offer.
Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, US
When: Saturday 3rd December, 2022 (3am Sunday morning GMT)
How To Watch: DAZN
Tale Of The Tape:
Estrada:
Place Of Birth: Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico
Age: 32
Alias: El Gallo
Record: 43-3 (28)
Height: 5’4”
Reach: 66”
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight: Estrada retained The Ring super flyweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Argi Cortes.
Gonzalez:
Place Of Birth: Manga, Nicaragua
Age: 35
Alias: Chocolatito
Record: 54-3 (41)
Height: 5’3”
Reach: 64’’
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight: ‘Chocolatito’ won a unanimous decision over WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez in his most recent bout. It was Gonzalez’s first outing since his loss to Estrada in 2021.
Full Fight Card:
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Roman Chocolatito Gonzalez; For the vacant WBC super flyweight title
Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Samuel Carmona; For Martinez’s WBC flyweight title
Joselito Velazquez vs. Cristofer Rosales, Flyweight
Diego Pacheco vs. Ricardo Adrian Luna; For Pacheco’s WBC USNBC super middleweight title Marc Castro vs. Maickol Lopez Villagrana; Super featherweight
Beatriz Ferreira vs. Carisse Brown; Super featherweight
Anthony Herrera vs. Juan Sequeira; Super flyweight
Betfred Odds:
Estrada: 7/4
Draw: 14/1
Gonzalez: 8/15
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
