There is still a whole lot of magic and sheer class there as far as the boxing career of future Hall of Famer Roman Gonzalez is concerned. The 37 year old Nicaraguan great returned to action for the first time in 19-months last night in his homeland, his fight with Rober Barrera of Colombia “Chocolatito’s” first fight in Nicaragua for almost a full decade. Gonzalez did not let his passionate countrymen and women down.
Gonzalez, 52-4(41) scored two knockdowns along the way to his tenth round stoppage win over 31 year old Barrera, 27-6(17). It was during the tenth round that Gonzalez had Barrera trapped and taking shots, with the referee choosing to call a halt to the fight. Time was :51-seconds and Gonzalez’ latest comeback proved to be a great success.
Gonzalez showed some rust early on, as was to be expected, but once he got into his groove, Gonzalez reminded everyone how smooth and silky he really can be. Barrera was aggressive and he gave it a real shot, but Gonzalez took over in the second half of the fight. Barrera showed a fine chin, and he also displayed heart, but Gonzalez scored his first knockdown in round eight, this with a nasty body shot that sent the younger man down in delayed reaction fashion.
In the ninth, Gonzalez dropped Barrera again, this time with a combo upstairs, “Chocolatito’s” two right hands and his left hook doing the damage. Once again, Barrera hauled himself upright, and he made it out of the round. Gonzalez closed the show inside a minute of the tenth. Now on the hunt for yet another world title – Gonzalez already having claimed no less than five major belts – he could possibly fight the new star of the 115 pound division, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
These two have a whole lot of respect and admiration for each other, but Gonzalez recently said that he would be open to the fight “for the right price.” Money talks, as we know. So, can Gonzalez, who won for the first time in over two years last night, add yet another title to his collection? If it is “Bam” who Gonzalez challenges in his quest to rule again, the veteran would more than likely be a hefty underdog. Still, Gonzalez, who has been stopped just once, this by Srisaket Sor Rungvisai back in September of 2017, showed us all last night that he has a good deal left in the tank.
Read the full article here
