Roman Gonzalez Defeats Israel Gonzalez By Unanimous Decision!

Roman Gonzalez v Israel Gonzalez

After twelve rounds of dominant fighting, WBA super world super flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (50-2, 41 KO’s) overcame Israel “Jiga” Gonzalez (25-4, 11 KO’s) by way of unanimous decision. By taking care of business in the DAZN co-main event, Chocolatito has set up a potential unification fight with WBC world super flyweight champion Juan “El Gallo” Estrada (40-3, 27 KO’s).

Now, on the same fight card, Estrada has to do his part to make the unification a reality by toppling Carlos Cuadras (39-3-1, 27 KO’s). Provided everything goes according to plan, Gonzalez would face Estrada in the first quarter of 2021. The meaningful unification bout would also double as a rematch to their November 17, 2012 prizefight.

AVALANCHE OF PUNCHES

The Gonzalez versus Gonzalez bout began at lively pace. Jiga used the whole ring, tossed a pesky jab with regularity and threw a monstrous number of left hooks. Chocolatito followed and tried to pick his spots with the longer, taller Gonzalez.

In the second period, Jiga clearly took the lead with his high volume punching and near constant activity. Roman Gonzalez was having a very difficult time getting inside his opponent’s long reach. To his credit, Chocolatito was finally able to crowd Jiga and ended the last thirty second impressively. This success bled into the third.

Whether due to the champion’s pressure or an ill-advised change in tactics, Israel Gonzalez spent large gaps of the period on the ropes. During those sessions against the ring straps, Chocolatito connected with a dizzying variety of punches with an emphasis on body shots. Outside of isolated chunks of successful offense from Jiga, Chocolatito was commanding the bout.

By the sixth round, Israel Gonzalez seemed to be out of answers and in the need of something dramatic to transpire. In the seventh, Jiga did little else other than ball-up on the ropes and absorb punishment. Finally, Jiga snapped out of his daze and began fighting back with gusto in the eighth. During the first minute of the period, Gonzalez slowed Chocolatito’s aggressiveness with a number of head snapping 1-2’s straight down the pipe.

TOO LITTLE TOO LATE

While he continued to make a good account of himself it was unclear if Jiga was doing enough to actually claim these rounds. But there is no question that Israel Gonzalez enjoyed the best round of the second half of the fight in the tenth. Unfortunately, by the end of the eleventh Jiga was retreating back into his shell.

For the twelfth and final round, Israel Gonzalez came out firing like he meant to leave it all in the ring. Luckily for the fans, the two pugilists did go toe-to-toe for the full three minutes. In the end however, it would not be enough. When the cards were read, Chocolatito was awarded the unanimous decision win.

By: Bakari Simpson

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