Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez

Career Overview

• Claims an amateur record of 88-0.
• Light Flyweight Gold Medalist at the 2004 Central American Championships in La Sabana, Costa Rica.
• Defeated Yutaka Niida by a fourth-round TKO to win the WBA World Minimumweight Championship in Japan on September 15, 2008. Gonzalez successfully defended the title three times.
• Defeated Francisco Rosas by a second-round KO to win the interim WBA World Light Flyweight Championship in Japan on October 24, 2010. Gonzalez was upgraded to full champion in February 2011 and defended the title five times before being upgraded to Super Champion in December 2012.
• Defeated Akira Yaegashi by a ninth-round TKO to win the Lineal, WBC and The Ring World Flyweight titles in Japan on September 15, 2014. Chocolatito made four successful defences of his Lineal title including a stoppage victory over Brian Viloria, former unified Flyweight champion and two-time Light Flyweight title-holder.
• Entered The Ring pound-for-pound ratings at No. 9 in June 2014. Nine months and four knockout wins later, he had advanced to the No. 2 spot. When pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired in September 2015, Gonzalez was installed as the new No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
• In March 2017 Gonzalez was beaten, for the first time, by Thai former WBC Super Flyweight title-holder Srisaket Sor Rungvisai via Majority Decision. Many believed that Gonzalez had done enough to win the gruelling, bloody affair. In the September 2017 rematch, Sor Rungvisai would knock out Gonzalez in the fourth round.
• On February 29th 2020 Gonzalez stopped the long-reigning and undefeated WBA Super Flyweight title-holder, Khalid Yafai, to win his first world title since tasting defeat.
• Has defeated 16 opponents (10 by KO) in world title bouts.
  • 2 opponents (1 by KO) for World Super Flyweight Title.
  • 5 opponents (4 by KO) for World Flyweight Title.
  • 5 opponents (3 by KO) for World Light Flyweight Title.
  • 4 opponents (2 by KO) for World Minimumweight Title.
• Has a record of 16-2 (10 KO) in world title fights.
• Has a record of 11-2 (8 KO) against former, current and future world titlists.
  • Won against Yutaka Niida, Katsunari Takayama, Ramon Garcia Hirales, Juan Francisco Estrada, Francisco Rodriguez Jr, Akira Yaegashi, Edgar Sosa, Brian Viloria, Carlos Cuadras, Moises Fuentes, and Khalid Yafai.
  • Loss against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (twice).
• Has a record of 20-2 (14 KOs) in fights outside his native Nicaragua.

Quotes

• On the origin of his nickname, Chocolatito: "My grandfather, Fracois Gonzalez, was a famous boxer in Nicaragua. My uncle, Cali Gonzalez, was also a really good boxer, as well as my father, Luis Gonzalez. Due to his dark skin complexion, everyone called him 'Chocolate.' So when I started boxing, people called me 'Little Chocolate,' which is where the word 'Chocolatito' comes from."
• On Hall of Famer and fellow Nicaraguan Alexis Arguello: "He was my friend and my mentor. My manager was one of his best friends. Alexis and a group of friends formed the company which promotes me in Nicaragua. Our gym is almost a tribute to his life philosophy. There you will see posters of him, trainers who were instructed by him, etc. I remember him often. He taught me what it means to represent Nicaragua in boxing abroad. He was an international star and an ambassador of the sport. Most importantly, he was a good friend, a good person, and somebody who really cared about the fighters. "

Regional & Minor Titles

• Nicaraguan Light Flyweight Championship (February 6, 2006)
• WBA Fedecentro Light Flyweight (February 6, 2006)
• WBA Fedelatin Minimumweight (May 12, 2007)
• Interim WBA World Light Flyweight title (October 24, 2010)

 

Preceded by: Yutaka Niida	WBA Minimumweight Champion 2008 Sep 15 – 2010 Vacated	Succeeded by: Kwanthai Sithmorseng
Preceded by: Juan Carlos Reveco Vacated	WBA Light Flyweight Champion 2011 Feb – 2012 Dec Upgraded to Super Champion 2012 Dec – 2014 Jan Super Champion Vacated	Succeeded by: Kazuto Ioka Regular Champion
Preceded by: Akira Yaegashi	WBC Flyweight Champion Vacated 2014 Sep 5 – 2016 Nov	Succeeded by: Juanito Hernandez
Preceded by: Carlos Cuadras	WBC Super Flyweight Champion 2016 Sep 10 – 2017 March 19	Succeeded by: Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
Preceded by: Khalid Yafai	WBA Super Flyweight Champion 2020 February 29 – present	Succeeded by: —

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