Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Roman Gonzalez III | DAZN - 3 December 2022

[handsofstone]

He was rightly ranked P4P after Ward retired.

A lot of people protested though.

The decision in the first Rungvisai fight still irks me

One of the best fights, and one of the greatest performances (Gonzalez I mean) I have ever seen.

The way he was able to assert his technique, under the huge weight of pressure that Rungvisai’s physicality brought to bear on him, was sublime. I mean I was involuntarily crying out at points*, in awe.

That his incredible career lacks having his greatest performance (IMO) at the pinnacle is sad.


* i was nearly in tears watching the Estrada rematch. Just, that it lived up to every expectation- I knew it wouldn’t let me down!- and how much I fuckin love those two little fuckers.

did you have him beating Estrada in the rematch last time out??

[Counter-puncher]

I never scored it mate, I don’t often score rounds nowadays. If there’s a fighter I really like or am interested in I’m spending more time analysing what he’s doing than really scoring. Even if I’m not doing that I’ve got the concentration spell of a gnat so I’ve given up

But honestly I didn’t see the robbery some folk did, my impression at the end was there were enough close rounds that you could make a case for Estrada winning 7- my gut at the end said ‘draw’ but that’s probably just the two competing fan girls in me not knowing who I gay out over the most. I thought Estrada did some unappreciated work as far as the commentators and the RBR’s I saw.

[handsofstone]

I never scored it mate, I don’t often score rounds nowadays. If there’s a fighter I really like or am interested in I’m spending more time analysing what he’s doing than really scoring. Even if I’m not doing that I’ve got the concentration spell of a gnat so I’ve given up

But honestly I didn’t see the robbery some folk did, my impression at the end was there were enough close rounds that you could make a case for Estrada winning 7- my gut at the end said ‘draw’ but that’s probably just the two competing fan girls in me not knowing who I gay out over the most. I thought Estrada did some unappreciated work as far as the commentators and the RBR’s I saw.

[margaret thatcher]

thought roman beat jfe clearly in the rematch, 8-4. really bullied him and had him looking mentally and physically shakey in a number of rounds. ive never been able to get into jfe the way i have roman, a lot of his stuff looks flashy but really isnt that effective and he often has extended lulls in his fights. he easily couldve lost the decision in the first cuadras fight because he didnt start fighting until like round 6 or 7

btw i agree on roman beating sor the first time , i didnt agree with the decision at all and still cant figure out why so many thought it was the right call

[Ruthless-RKO]

thought roman beat jfe clearly in the rematch, 8-4. really bullied him and had him looking mentally and physically shakey in a number of rounds. ive never been able to get into jfe the way i have roman, a lot of his stuff looks flashy but really isnt that effective and he often has extended lulls in his fights. he easily couldve lost the decision in the first cuadras fight because he didnt start fighting until like round 6 or 7

btw i agree on roman beating sor the first time , i didnt agree with the decision at all and still cant figure out why so many thought it was the right call

Something I agree with. The rematch was a close fight, but a clear decision win for Choco.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Roman Gonzalez III planned for November or December

Negotiations have begun for a trilogy match between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez for November or December.

They were going to fight in March, but COVID 19 issues prevented the match from take place because Estrada couldn’t train.

ESPNmx is reporting the news of the talks between WBA/WBC Franchise super flyweight champion Estrada (42-3, 28 KOs) and the former four-division world champion Chocolatito (51-3, 41 KOs).

Estrada, 32, was supposed to be fighting WBA ‘regular’ champion Joshua Franco next, but those plans have changed. The Chocolatito trilogy match is the far bigger match for Estrada, who has been inactive for the last 15 months.

Estrada’s original plans were to fight Joshua Estrada, the older brother of WBC 115-lb champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, on August 20th. They had planned to fight on July 16th, but the match got pushed to August 20th.

Chocolatito is coming off an impressive 12-round decision victory over Julio Cesar Martinez last March in San Diego. The fight was supposed to be competitive, but Chocolatito had too many technical skills & size for the slugger Rey Martinez.

“The long-awaited third battle between Mexican Juan Francisco ‘Gallo’ Estrada and Nicaraguan Román ‘Chocolatito’ González could come sooner than expected, as close sources revealed to ESPN Knockout that it is very likely that the Sonoran will not face Joshua Franco in the coming weeks, with his sights set on the trilogy with the four-time world champion for November or December,” said Salvador Rodriguez to ESPNmx.

Estrada might be forced to give up his WBA title if he faces Chocolatito, but that’s likely not a big deal. Win or lose, he always can come back and fight for the WBA belt, as the division is barren of name fighters, especially now that Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras got old.

Last year, Estrada beat Chocolatito by a highly questionable 12-round split decision in March in Dallas, Texas. One judge had the fight scored wide for Estrada 117-111 and was highly criticized.

The other judges scored it 115-113 for Estrada and 115-113 for Chocolatito. Many boxing fans had Chocolatito winning 8-4 and 9-3. Estrada looked just as overmatched against Chocolatito as he was in their first fight in 2012.

Hopefully, the judges don’t ruin the trilogy like they did the second fight between Estrada and Chocolatito. To avoid that from happening, it would be wise to stage the trilogy match in a neutral venue where

Estrada isn’t going to have the crowd on his side as he did in Dallas, Texas. Placing the trilogy on the East Coast in the New York area might be the answer because the last thing fans need is another controversial decision involving these two.

If the negotiations fail to produce a fight, it’s possible we could see Chocolatito challenge for a world title against WBC super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Does that mean he'll be stripped of the WBA if he doesn't fight Franco?

Also he has lost the WBC belt already, well he's franchise, but Bam IS the WBC champion now.

[garethhop]

Could this end up in the UK?…..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Could this end up in the UK?…..

Why would you think that?

[garethhop]

Just a wild punt. How much of a money fight is this in the US compared to what they could make in the UK?

Genuinely don't know. Just struggling to think of other 'mega fights' that Hearn could make here?

[margaret thatcher]

would prefer one of them (especially roman) vs bam, instead of a third fight

but third fight is cool too....winner vs bam. even the loser vs bam could be cool depending how the fight goes

[maverick23]

Just a wild punt. How much of a money fight is this in the US compared to what they could make in the UK?

Genuinely don't know. Just struggling to think of other 'mega fights' that Hearn could make here?

I think it’ll do better in the US just for the mexican market over there. Would help them shift more tickets and be watched more.

If this was in the U.K., I’d find a way to go but the reality is no one outside the hardcore fans would be willing to pay for this.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Finally confirmed for Dec 3.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez trilogy fight now set for December

Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez are set to meet Dec. 3 in a trilogy bout for the junior bantamweight championship, promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing announced Saturday night.

No location for the fight was revealed.

This is the third time the third fight between Estrada and Gonzalez has been scheduled. The future Hall of Famers were set to square off in October 2021 before Gonzalez tested positive for COVID-19. A March bout was postponed after Estrada contracted the coronavirus.

The 32-year-old Estrada returned Saturday in his native Mexico with a tougher-than-expected decision victory over Argi Cortes to retain the WBC franchise championship at 115 pounds. Now, Estrada heads into the rubber match with Gonzalez, a rivalry that began 10 years ago.

Gonzalez (51-3, 41 KOs) scored a unanimous-decision victory over Estrada in 2012 to retain a 108-pound title. Estrada (43-3, 28 KOs) exacted a measure of revenge in the March 2021 rematch at 115 pounds, but the split-decision win was marred by controversy. They combined for 2,529 punches in the return bout that was ESPN's runner-up for fight of the year.

"When you talk about great rivalries over the years, this is right up there," Hearn told ESPN last year. "Fight 1 was a classic, and Fight 2 was probably the best I have ever seen live. The decider will be historic."

After Estrada withdrew from the rematch, Gonzalez went on to defeat 112-pound champion Julio Cesar Martinez in March in yet another master-class performance for the 35-year-old Nicaraguan.

Estrada, who relinquished his WBA title last month, is ESPN's No. 1 junior bantamweight. Gonzalez, who was long recognized as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, is No. 2.

[NoScoutingReports]

Just caught up with the Estrada show from the weekend, very good action throughout the card. Flores v Nontshinga was a tremendous war, would highly recommend.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight will be at the Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Arizona.

[Wee Tommy]

Fight will be at the Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Arizona.

Wow I’m really surprised it’s not in the UK.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight will be at the Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Arizona.

Wow I’m really surprised it’s not in the UK.

Why would it be?

[Wee Tommy]

Fight will be at the Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Arizona.

Wow I’m really surprised it’s not in the UK.

Why would it be?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Julio Cesar Martinez vs. McWilliams Arroyo Added

The trilogy clash between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez will take place at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday December 3, live worldwide on DAZN – and Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are delighted to announce that Julio Cesar Martinez will meet McWilliams Arroyo for his WBC World Super-Flyweight title as the co-main event on a blockbuster night of action in Arizona.

Estrada (43-3 28 KOs) and Chocolatito (51-3 41 KOs) will finally go toe-to-toe for the third time in their storied careers, with their last meeting in March 2021 a fight of the year contender that Estrada edged via split decision in Dallas. That victory levelled the score between the pair, after Chocolatito won their first battle back in November 2012 in Los Angeles, and now they will lock horns once again for their third mouth-watering battle a decade on from the first.

Martinez (18-2 14 KOs) and Arroyo (21-4 16 KOs) are also renewing their rivalry on December 3, after their firefight of a first contest in November was sadly cut short after an accidental headclash caused a cut for Arroyo, ending a chaotic three round whirlwind that saw both fighters hit the canvas in the opening session, and Arroyo visit the deck again in the second.

There’s more action to be added to the card soon, and promoter Eddie Hearn believes the final Matchroom show of 2022 in America could be the most explosive yet, with Martinez and Arroyo providing the tastiest of appetizers before the stunning main event.

“What a night this is going to be,” said Hearn. “The trilogy battle between Estrada and Chocolatito is guaranteed to be a thriller, and Martinez and Arroyo have given us a taste of what they provide when they tangle.

“Estrada and Chocolatito will go down as one of the great rivalries in the sport, and on December 3, one of these two modern greats will edge ahead of the other, and that promises to make this the most thrilling of the three clashes – it’s an early Christmas present for fight fans that you do not want to miss.”

[MightyWarrior]

Martinez Arroyo rematch added to undercard - first fight was wild before Arroyo bailed, he’s lucky to get a 2nd chance so let’s hope he comes out swinging….

[maverick23]

Martinez Arroyo rematch added to undercard - first fight was wild before Arroyo bailed, he’s lucky to get a 2nd chance so let’s hope he comes out swinging….

Yep - I’m liking this show so far. 2 crackers.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBC belt will be at stake here

[Ruthless-RKO]

McWilliams Arroyo Injured, New Opponent Sought For Julio Cesar Martinez

[Dioufy]

Still trying to get over the 118-110 in the first fight from 1998.