Brook Sibrian leaps from white-collar boxing to real thing with support of ‘Chocolatito’

Women’s junior flyweight Brook Sibrian, who considers flyweight legend Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez a mentor, recently fought in support of his main-event fight in his recent return to the ring.

Sibrian won a unanimous decision over Hilary Romero in a four-round bout at Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 12. The 37-year-old Gonzalez (52-4, 42 KOs) stopped Colombia’s Rober Barrera (27-6, 17 KOs) in the 10th and final round. 

The 31-year-old Sibrian (4-0, 1 KO), based in Coachella, California, initially fell in love with the sport through white-collar boxing. She balances her fighting career with a corporate job and only recently transitioned to professional boxing. She met Gonzalez through her fiancée, junior featherweight Jose “Mega” Soto, who sparred with Gonzalez. Sibrian views Gonzalez as a pivotal figure in her fighting future and regards him as a member of her team.

“It was like an audition,” Sibrian said of her inclusion on Gonzalez’s card, which came together in just three weeks. “I was the first fight of the card, literally with just my corner, family and staff in attendance.”

Despite the quiet arena at the start, Sibrian found motivation in the experience, describing it as “pretty awesome and motivational” to be part of such a significant show.

Sibrian turned professional after the pandemic and considers her association with Gonzalez to be integral to her future success and career.

“I’ve always known that ‘Choco’ supported me and was rooting for me, but this last trip was pretty insane in the sense that, like, it solidified how strong the support he is giving me,” Sibrian said. “It is kind of a stamp of, like, now we are definitely [working together], and I am going to help take you to the top. Obviously, that also includes Carlos Blandon – that’s his manager. So now it feels like I am a part of all of his future plans, some way, somehow.”

Also on the Gonzalez-Barrera card was Eveling Junieth Ortega (8-5, 2 KOs), who competes in Sibrian’s weight class – and who has also defeated Romero. Ortega, a 26-year-old Nicaraguan riding a two-fight win streak, won the crowd at Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in her unanimous decision win over Karol Gonzalez.

Given the limited options in the weight class, Ortega could be a future opponent for Sibrian.

Sibrian is already looking forward to future opportunities on Gonzalez cards, as her boxing ambitions – despite her late start – remain high.

“I wish I could have stopped her,” Sibrian said of her fight with Romero. “That would have been the cherry on top. But I feel like my performance was good enough for what I needed to do.”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.