Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera | ESPN+ - July 12, 2024

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Who wins?

Poll ended at 13 Jul 2024, 03:09

Gonzalez - Decision
6
60%
Gonzalez - T/KO
4
40%
DRAW
0
No votes
Barrera - T/KO
0
No votes
Barrera - Decision
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 10

Ruthless-RKO
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Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera | ESPN+ - July 12, 2024

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

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Press Release

Roman Gonzalez will have the support of his fellow Nicaraguan people for the first time since his championship title run, claiming five world titles and dominating the “Fly” divisions in the process, all while traveling on the road.

Gonzalez, alongside manager Carlos Blandon international promoter Felix "Tuto" Zabala Jr of All Star Boxing, Inc., announced he will return to Nicaragua in the biggest boxing event since the legendary Alexis Arguello last fought on the soil in December 18, 1977. The very same Arena where Roman will be fighting is named after the great champion and has a capacity of more than 15,000 fans.

“I am super happy and excited to be fighting in front of all my family, the Nicaraguan people,” said Gonzalez.

“It will be a dream come true if I can crown myself a six-time champion in five different divisions here in Nicaragua. For me and my team the greatest of all time will always be Alexis Arguello.”

“The Nicaraguan people will experience a historic night of boxing,” said Zabala Jr, President of All Star Boxing Inc.

“I am happy to deliver this along with my partner and mentor Mr. Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions. We have been diligently working in the country for over 20 years developing boxing in the region and producing world title fights. Roman was always a dream to have and now we are making it reality, This will be a special one.”

The fighter’s manager, Blandon, agreed.

“After this inactivity of close to 19 months, It will make for a very interesting fight,” he said.

“We expect a positive victory and look forward to a title shot thereafter and why not at home with the support of his fans.”

Five different opponents are on the table for Roman’s selection, from countries including Mexico, United States, Panama and the Philippines. The wait is over. Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez has announced live from a press conference in Managua, Nicaragua his anticipated return to the ring on Friday, July 12.

Roman Arguello Arena and live on ESPN Knockout on July 12.
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 08 Jul 2024, 04:42, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera - July 12, 2024

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Roman Gonzalez set for July 12th comeback against Rober Barrera

Roman Gonzalez is reportedly looking to challenge for a bantamweight title by year’s end in Japan

Four-division champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez is officially set for his first ring appearance since December 2022, announcing via press conference that he’ll meet Rober Barrera on July 12th in his native Managua, Nicaragua.

The bout is reportedly meant to lead into a year-end bantamweight title shot in Japan and as such will be held at a 117-pound catchweight.

Colombia’s Barrera (27-5, 17 KO) is, well, the sort of opponent an undersized super flyweight in his mid-30s would use to shake off rust. He’s picked up a boatload of wins over low-level countrymen while falling short against noteworthy figures like Carlos Canizales, Ryoichi Taguchi, Luis Concepcion, and Muhammad Waseem. He did take Canizales to a split decision (in a 2015 fight that was apparently scheduled for 11 rounds) and was ahead on the cards when “Nica” stopped him in 2020, but doesn’t figure to pose any sort of threat to Gonzalez (50-4, 41 KO).

Still, it’s good to see “Chocolatito” back in the ring at all. ESPN KnockOut will be carrying the broadcast, so hopefully ESPN+ will do the same for viewers in the States.
Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera - July 12, 2024

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera - July 12, 2024

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Press Release

After 19 months out of the ring, the fighting pride of Nicaragua is back for a long-awaited homecoming. Former four-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez will face Colombian puncher Rober Barrera.

Gonzalez vs Barrera features in the 10-round bantamweight main event on Friday, July 12, at Polideportivo Alexis Argüello in Managua, Nicaragua. Gonzalez vs Barrera and additional fight action will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Gonzalez (51-4, 41 KOs), the one-time pound-for-pound king, has captured titles at minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight, and junior bantamweight during a 19-year pro career.

Considered one of the greatest lighter-weight fighters in boxing history, he returns following a highly controversial decision defeat to Juan Francisco Estrada in December 2022.

Barrera (27-5, 17 KOs) is a former world title challenger who has won three straight fights.

In other fights scheduled for the ESPN+ stream:

Eveling Ortega (7-5, 2 KOs) vs. Karol Mazariegos Gonzalez (7-1-1, 3 KOs), 8 Rounds, Light Flyweights

Kevin Vivas (7-2, 2 KOs) vs. Azael Villar (20-3-4, 15 KOs), 8 Rounds, Light Flyweights

Michael Carmona (5-0, 3 KOs) vs. Edwin Cano Hernandez (12-2-1, 3 KOs), 8 Rounds, Minimumweights

Jeffrey Gonzalez (2-0) vs. Andres Quesada (2-0), 4 Rounds, Heavyweights
Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera - July 12, 2024

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Fight Week!! :box:
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera | ESPN+ - July 12, 2024

Post by Thomastearns »

37 year old Nicaraguan Roman Gonzalez is well named as "Chocolatito."

He's already achieved his goal of matching up to his hero, the great Alexis Arguello after whom the venue of this fight is named (the Polideportivo Alexis Argüello in Managua).

We can be certain Chocolatito will be doing his best to ease past Barrera for perhaps one last big night.

It's normally a joy to watch him fight and I don't remember seeing anyone as comfortable in a boxing ring as Gonzalez since Robert Duran.

You could say that Roman Gonzalez seems to be in a state of flow everytime he steps into the ring, but at 37, that magical track must narrow at some point.

When it inevitably does, I don't want to see it.

Anyway, I hope he manages to leave the sport on his own terms. As one of the most stylish boxers of modern times he really ought to.
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera | ESPN+ - July 12, 2024

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Fight Niight! :box:
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera - July 12, 2024

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

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Date: Friday July 12, 2024
Location: Polideportivo Alexis Argüello in Managua, Nicaragua
TV/Stream: ESPN+

Start Times
ESPN+: 9 pm ET | 6 pm PT | 2 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Teiken Promotions & All Star Boxing Inc.

Fight Card

10 Round Bantamweight Bout
Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera

8 Round Light Flyweight Bout
Eveling Junieth Ortega vs. Karol Mazariegos Gonzalez

8 Round Light Flyweight Bout
Kevin Vivas vs. Azael Villar

8 Round Minimumweight Bout
Michael Carmona vs. Edwin Cano Hernandez

8 Round Featherweight Bout
Elysson Marquez vs. Aron Juarez

4 Round Light Flyweight Bout
Brook Sibrian vs. Hilary Romero

4 Round Heavyweight Bout
Jeffrey Gonzalez vs. Tony Urbina

4 Round Light Flyweight Bout
Miguel Estrada vs. Mayquel Aguilera

4 Round Featherweight Bout
Moises Mora vs. Claudio Obando

4 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Alexander Hernandez vs. Billy Aceituno Aldana
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Rober Barrera | ESPN+ - July 12, 2024

Post by Ruthless-RKO »

Roman Gonzalez ends layoff with beatdown of Rober Barrera

Roman Gonzalez is reportedly eyeing a year-end title shot in Japan

Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez’s first homecoming bout since 2015 proved a triumphant one last night when he broke down Colombia’s Rober Barrera en route to a 10th-round stoppage.

Gonzalez (52-4, 42 KO) entered the ring on the heels of a 19-month layoff dating back to his majority decision loss to Juan Francisco Estrada in their rubber match. Barrera (27-6, 17 KO) took advantage of his rust to land some solid blows in the opening rounds, but once Gonzalez got into gear, there was no stopping him. The 37-year-old’s avalanche of offense turned the second half of the fight into an absolute beating, with Barrera hitting the deck in the eighth and ninth before the bloodthirsty ref finally saved him in the final round.

He was obviously facing a low-level opponent, but for a 37-year-old in a lower weight with almost 60 fights under his belt and an all-action style that should by all accounts have racked up alarming levels of attrition, Gonzalez looked pretty damn good. Those nonstop combinations of his are still a sight to behold, lacking the truly venomous snap of his prime but still beautifully executed.

Previous reports claimed Gonzalez was targeting a year-end title shot against the bantamweight division’s Japanese hegemony. Junto Nakatani is due to fight Vincent Astrolabio next week, while Takuma Inoue and Yoshiki Takei are reportedly gearing up to meet Seiya Tsutsumi and Daigo Higa, respectively. That leaves the skilled but light-punching Ryosuke Nishida, who’d make for a quality scrap with Gonzalez.

That said, Levi Luna claims Gonzalez is now targeting WBO super flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka, who faces “Titan” Rodriguez on that same Nakatani vs Astrolabio show. That would be a fight and a half, and if Tanaka doesn’t meet Fernando Martinez in a unification, I’m 100% here for it.

There are also rumblings of Gonzalez meeting fellow legend Nonito Donaire in the coming months, but nothing is official.
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