'Chocolatito' Gonzalez set for September 12 ring return in Managua, Nicaragua
Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez will get a second consecutive hometown headliner as he awaits one more – or one last – title shot.
The legendary former four-division champion is set to face Mexico’s Hector Robles, Gueguense Box Promotions confirmed on Thursday. The bout will headline a September 12 show from Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in Gonzalez’s hometown of Managua, Nicaragua.
Gonzalez, 52-4 (42 KOs) appeared at this very venue in his previous outing, a tenth-round knockout of Rober Barrera last July 12. The bout ended a 19-month ring absence for the future Hall of Famer, who hoped to return to the ring much earlier this year.
There were previous advanced talks in place for Gonzalez to challenge WBO 115lbs titlist Phumulele Cafu, 11-0-3 (8 KOs) in Nicaragua. However, plans fell through just as both sides hoped to finalize terms for a springtime title fight.
Cafu will instead face lineal and WBC champ Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in a July 19 unification clash in Frisco, Texas.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez will go this route in what becomes a second straight rust shaker. The 38-year-old will have been out of the ring for 14 months by the time he meets Robles, 13-8-3 (4 KOs), who fights outside of Mexico for the first time in his nine-year pro career.
Even against a version of Gonzalez in the twilight of his career, Robles massively steps up in class. The journeyman from Monterrey has fallen short against his most notable competition, including a November 2020 knockout defeat to then-unbeaten countryman David Cuellar.
Robles will enter this fight on the heels of an eight-round, unanimous decision over Gerardo Rodriguez, 4-4 (1 KO) on May 8 in Monterrey. The bout was at flyweight, though he’s also fought at junior bantamweight, where his matchup with Gonzalez will take place.
Gonzalez has won titles at strawweight, junior flyweight, flyweight and junior bantamweight.
Roman Gonzalez vs. Hector Robles - September 12, 2025
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Hector Robles - September 12, 2025
With 'Chocolatito' out, Andrew Moloney the WBO’s new No. 1 at 115lbs
Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Hector Robles - September 12, 2025
Of course he isRuthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Aug 2025, 13:18 With 'Chocolatito' out, Andrew Moloney the WBO’s new No. 1 at 115lbs
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Re: Roman Gonzalez vs. Hector Robles - September 12, 2025
Vintage win? Roman Gonzalez shows age in outpointing Hector Robles
Roman Gonzalez’s Saturday night in Managua, Nicaragua, was a long way from Carlos Cuadras at The Forum or Brian Viloria at The Garden. It was light years from Juan Francisco Estrada at the Los Angeles Sports Arena – or even, much more recently, Estrada at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
This was a different “Chocolatito.” But it wound up being enough.
In a showcase junior bantamweight bout, Gonzalez labored but outlasted Hector Robles over 10 rounds to earn a unanimous decision at his hometown Gimnasio Alexis Arguello in Managua.
Scores were 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92, all in favor of Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, 53-4 (42 KOs), and now clearly carrying the age and weight of a 38-year-old who lacks the luxury of masking it in boxing’s lightest divisions, fought accordingly over the first two rounds. It was Mexico’s Robles, 13-9-3 (4 KOs), who was the busier of the two fighters early, scoring points (if not damage) with a two-fisted attack that found Chocolatito a step slow and seemingly almost unwilling to engage.
But in the third, Gonzalez was suddenly up on the balls of his feet, bouncing, unspooling long right and left hands around Robles’ flank – into his ribs, above his hip, anywhere he could find a purchase. Robles was still throwing, still seeking his opportunities, but Gonzalez was now slipping, moving and, most noticeably, advancing – sending Robles into retreat, putting his back on the ropes and letting his hands go freely. The old Chocolatito? No. But something much closer to it than we saw at the opening bell.
Gonzalez kept up his assault to the body, but Robles was still giving back roughly what he was taking. In the sixth and seventh, they leaned in, fired, ducked, turned, missed, landed. Neither was hurt, but slowly and surely, Gonzalez piled up more punches. He wasn’t so much concussive as he cascaded a steady stream of leather that Robles couldn’t quite keep up with.
It was hardly a done deal, though. In the eighth, Robles landed a sharp left hand squarely on the nose, snapping Gonzalez’s head back and forcing him to reset. But he did, and the action continued, with Chocolatito maintaining a steady but distinct edge.
Both fighters gave what they had down the stretch, Robles throwing often but without the power to turn the fight in his favor and Gonzalez lagging slightly behind in volume but able to coast across the finish line – perhaps a symbol of what we’re witnessing as the career of the great Chocolatito winds down in similar fashion.
Roman Gonzalez’s Saturday night in Managua, Nicaragua, was a long way from Carlos Cuadras at The Forum or Brian Viloria at The Garden. It was light years from Juan Francisco Estrada at the Los Angeles Sports Arena – or even, much more recently, Estrada at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
This was a different “Chocolatito.” But it wound up being enough.
In a showcase junior bantamweight bout, Gonzalez labored but outlasted Hector Robles over 10 rounds to earn a unanimous decision at his hometown Gimnasio Alexis Arguello in Managua.
Scores were 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92, all in favor of Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, 53-4 (42 KOs), and now clearly carrying the age and weight of a 38-year-old who lacks the luxury of masking it in boxing’s lightest divisions, fought accordingly over the first two rounds. It was Mexico’s Robles, 13-9-3 (4 KOs), who was the busier of the two fighters early, scoring points (if not damage) with a two-fisted attack that found Chocolatito a step slow and seemingly almost unwilling to engage.
But in the third, Gonzalez was suddenly up on the balls of his feet, bouncing, unspooling long right and left hands around Robles’ flank – into his ribs, above his hip, anywhere he could find a purchase. Robles was still throwing, still seeking his opportunities, but Gonzalez was now slipping, moving and, most noticeably, advancing – sending Robles into retreat, putting his back on the ropes and letting his hands go freely. The old Chocolatito? No. But something much closer to it than we saw at the opening bell.
Gonzalez kept up his assault to the body, but Robles was still giving back roughly what he was taking. In the sixth and seventh, they leaned in, fired, ducked, turned, missed, landed. Neither was hurt, but slowly and surely, Gonzalez piled up more punches. He wasn’t so much concussive as he cascaded a steady stream of leather that Robles couldn’t quite keep up with.
It was hardly a done deal, though. In the eighth, Robles landed a sharp left hand squarely on the nose, snapping Gonzalez’s head back and forcing him to reset. But he did, and the action continued, with Chocolatito maintaining a steady but distinct edge.
Both fighters gave what they had down the stretch, Robles throwing often but without the power to turn the fight in his favor and Gonzalez lagging slightly behind in volume but able to coast across the finish line – perhaps a symbol of what we’re witnessing as the career of the great Chocolatito winds down in similar fashion.