Roman Gonzalez and Nonito Donaire in conversation to fight
They no longer wear a world title belt, but they each stand as a four-division world champion.
Their better days are behind them, but there’s plenty left in the tank.
And as that finish-line beckons, wouldn’t it be something if they paused before it to face each other?
Nonito Donaire of the Philippines and Nicaragua’s Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez are currently in conversations to stage a fight by year’s end, Donaire told BS Saturday night before he settled in at Mandalay Bay to watch Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s majority decision victory over Serhii Bohachuk.
“I don’t know if it’s going to come through, but we’re talking,” the 41-year-old Donaire (42-8, 28 KOs) said.
Donaire, who’s won belts from flyweight to featherweight, has been out of the ring since his flat showing in a July 2023 defeat to Alexandro Santiago (28-4-5).
Yet, he’s reinvigorated by the possibility of landing a bout with 37-year-old “Chocolatito,” the former super-flyweight champion who most recently fought July 12 in his native Nicaragua after sparring with new super-flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez before his title win over Gonzalez rival, Juan Francisco Estrada.
Gonzalez (52-4, 42 KOs) is promoted by Teiken Promotions in Japan, and although Rodriguez’s American promoter, Eddie Hearn, wants an Rodriguez-Gonzalez fight, Teiken does not want the stablemates to fight.
Donaire wants Gonzalez.
“I’m just training my butt off and hoping it’ll happen,” Donaire said.
The stars seem to be aligning, said Donaire, as each fighter’s schedule is free and they share the rare achievement of each claiming world titles in four divisions.
Donaire raised his eyebrows at the opportunity to make this match.
“He fought in July, so ours would be by the end of the year,” Donaire said.
The rest is up to them.
Roman Gonzalez vs. Nonito Donaire - Who wins?
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Nonito Donaire - Who wins?
This would be awful :(
Roman.... look to face Nishida or Takuma instead... or... anyone else who doesn't have really nasty power
Roman.... look to face Nishida or Takuma instead... or... anyone else who doesn't have really nasty power
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Nonito Donaire - Who wins?
Roman Gonzalez declares he has ’no interest’ in facing Nonito Donaire
Roman Gonzalez has hit out at speculation that he might meet fellow future International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Nonito Donaire.
Over the weekend, Donaire had said there had been talks between the camps, but today Gonzalez has taken to X to say that whatever talking there had been had stopped.
Filipino great Donaire, 41, had told Boxing Scene: “I don’t know if it’s going to come through, but we’re talking.”
But on X, 37-yearold Nicaraguan Gonzalez fired back stating: “On behalf of Team Chocolatito we want to inform our Fans that we have NO INTEREST AT ALL of fighting @filipinoflash, nor are we in talks with his team. He has no Title or ANYTHING that interest us, therefore we wish him luck in Retirement. God bless.”
Gonzalez is 52-4 (42 KOs), and stopped Rober Barrera on his return to action last month after almost two years out, while Donaire – 42-8 (28 KOs) – has not boxed since a decision defeat to Alex Santiago in Las Vegas last year.
Roman Gonzalez has hit out at speculation that he might meet fellow future International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Nonito Donaire.
Over the weekend, Donaire had said there had been talks between the camps, but today Gonzalez has taken to X to say that whatever talking there had been had stopped.
Filipino great Donaire, 41, had told Boxing Scene: “I don’t know if it’s going to come through, but we’re talking.”
But on X, 37-yearold Nicaraguan Gonzalez fired back stating: “On behalf of Team Chocolatito we want to inform our Fans that we have NO INTEREST AT ALL of fighting @filipinoflash, nor are we in talks with his team. He has no Title or ANYTHING that interest us, therefore we wish him luck in Retirement. God bless.”
Gonzalez is 52-4 (42 KOs), and stopped Rober Barrera on his return to action last month after almost two years out, while Donaire – 42-8 (28 KOs) – has not boxed since a decision defeat to Alex Santiago in Las Vegas last year.
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Nonito Donaire - Who wins?
Donaire done chasing Chocolatito as legends fight around each other
Nonito Donaire has called for a clash against Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez over the last few years, but he says his messages have been left unanswered.
Donaire is very much interested in a bout between former pound-for-pound stalwarts and future first ballot Hall of Famers. But the “Filipino Flash” says his callouts have fallen on deaf ears.
“Chocolotito is off my radar for now, knowing that they haven’t been wanting to fight for the last several years,” Donaire told The Ring. “We've tried to make the fight happen for so long. We just stopped chasing them. You know? I've reached out to them numerous times, but they weren't really interested. It came to a point where I was fine with fighting Chocolotito in his hometown of Nicaragua, but it never happened.
“So for me, it's like, you know what — if you guys don't want it, you guys don't want it. I’m on my last straw with them. If they want to make it happen, they can come to me. When they do, they do.”
Gonzalez had shoulder surgery in January and is gearing up to give it another go.
At 43 years old, whether it’s against Gonzalez or not, the four-division champion Donaire (43-10, 28 KOs) still plans on fighting for the foreseeable future despite a 1-4 slide since 2022.
Donaire last fought in March and was stopped by Riku Masuda in the eighth round of a bantamweight bout. The 38-year-old Gonzalez (53-4, 42 KOs), meanwhile, has fought just twice over the last four years.
Donaire is already the oldest champion in bantamweight history, a feat he accomplished at 38; now he wants to break his own record again. Donaire is currently eyeing the winner of Saturday’s showdown between IBF 118-pound champion Willibaldo Garcia Perez and Andrew Moloney.
Donaire is pulling for Moloney in the matchup and hopes their potential fight can land on the undercard of the discussed bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Michael Zerafa in Australia.
“Andrew and I have been trying to set up that fight for years. It’s a long overdue fight, and it's a fight that needs to happen,” Donaire said. “It can happen in his hometown. He won't be able to escape it then.
“I only have maybe a few fights left, or maybe a lot of fights, it depends on how my body works. But I want to spend every moment that I can focusing on boxing and not coaching or commentating like I have been, because I love this. This is what I love doing — I love being inside the ring. I love getting to the top and fighting the best. So I want to continue focusing on whatever I have left.”
Nonito Donaire has called for a clash against Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez over the last few years, but he says his messages have been left unanswered.
Donaire is very much interested in a bout between former pound-for-pound stalwarts and future first ballot Hall of Famers. But the “Filipino Flash” says his callouts have fallen on deaf ears.
“Chocolotito is off my radar for now, knowing that they haven’t been wanting to fight for the last several years,” Donaire told The Ring. “We've tried to make the fight happen for so long. We just stopped chasing them. You know? I've reached out to them numerous times, but they weren't really interested. It came to a point where I was fine with fighting Chocolotito in his hometown of Nicaragua, but it never happened.
“So for me, it's like, you know what — if you guys don't want it, you guys don't want it. I’m on my last straw with them. If they want to make it happen, they can come to me. When they do, they do.”
Gonzalez had shoulder surgery in January and is gearing up to give it another go.
At 43 years old, whether it’s against Gonzalez or not, the four-division champion Donaire (43-10, 28 KOs) still plans on fighting for the foreseeable future despite a 1-4 slide since 2022.
Donaire last fought in March and was stopped by Riku Masuda in the eighth round of a bantamweight bout. The 38-year-old Gonzalez (53-4, 42 KOs), meanwhile, has fought just twice over the last four years.
Donaire is already the oldest champion in bantamweight history, a feat he accomplished at 38; now he wants to break his own record again. Donaire is currently eyeing the winner of Saturday’s showdown between IBF 118-pound champion Willibaldo Garcia Perez and Andrew Moloney.
Donaire is pulling for Moloney in the matchup and hopes their potential fight can land on the undercard of the discussed bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Michael Zerafa in Australia.
“Andrew and I have been trying to set up that fight for years. It’s a long overdue fight, and it's a fight that needs to happen,” Donaire said. “It can happen in his hometown. He won't be able to escape it then.
“I only have maybe a few fights left, or maybe a lot of fights, it depends on how my body works. But I want to spend every moment that I can focusing on boxing and not coaching or commentating like I have been, because I love this. This is what I love doing — I love being inside the ring. I love getting to the top and fighting the best. So I want to continue focusing on whatever I have left.”
Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Nonito Donaire - Who wins?
Too bad that Chocolatito has no interest in the bout. It's probably the only thing left for either one of them, and if it's good they could do it twice.
If Chocolatito doesn't want the fight, he might as well not fight at all anymore.
If Chocolatito doesn't want the fight, he might as well not fight at all anymore.
Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Nonito Donaire - Who wins?
Back in the day, I was a fan of both boxers, particularly Donaire, and their style of fighting. Now, however, I have no desire to see either of them continue along the path toward diminished capacity.
Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Nonito Donaire - Who wins?
You summed it up perfectly.