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Rematches. Sometimes they happen within months, such as Saturday’s return between Jessica McCaskill and Cecilia Braekus, who fought in August. And sometimes they take years. Like Saturday’s main event between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, who first hooked up in 2012.
Things were a lot different then. Chocolatito was 33-0, the WBA junior flyweight champ and arguably the best fighter in boxing. As talented as he was, Estrada was just another notch in Chocolatito’s belt, as the Nicaraguan continued his quest to legendary status.
Today, the roles have reversed. Estrada is considered one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best after going 15-1 after the Gonzalez loss, while Chocolatito is the sentimental pick after a stunning 2020 comeback. The two finally meet again in a much-anticipated super flyweight unification showdown at American Airlines Arena in Dallas (6 p.m. start; 9 p.m. main event, Saturday, DAZN).
Will Juan Francisco Estrada avenge his Roman Gonzalez defeat?
Paul Wheeler wonders whether Juan Francisco Estrada can continue his trend of gaining revenge when he takes on old foe Gonzalez in a super-flyweight superfight
JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA only had to wait seven months to avenge his defeat to Juan Carlos Sanchez Jnr. It took him double that time before he was able to secure revenge against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. But this period pales in comparison to the near-eight-and-a-half years that he has had to wait for a rematch with
Back in November 2012, Estrada moved down in weight in order to participate in his first world title contest. Gonzalez, in contrast, was taking part in his ninth bout for world honours. At the time, the Nicaraguan was the defending WBA light-flyweight champion, having formerly reigned as the WBA strawweight king.