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).