‘It Will Be a Dream Come True’: ‘Chocolatito’ Reveals Future Ambitions With Return Confirmed

On July 12 Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (51-4, 41 KOs) will make his much-anticipated return to the ring in a 10-round bout at the 15,000-seat Alexis Arguello Sports Center in Managua, Nicaragua. The card will air on ESPN Knockout in Latin America but Zabala said he is working on securing a United States broadcaster. Dan Rafael has revealed via his Fight Freaks Unite Substack the expected weight limit for the fight and the future aims for Gonzalez.

Roman Gonzalez Return Confirmed

Roman Gonzalez Homecoming

Gonzalez, the former pound-for-pound king and four-division champion will make his return to the ring after a 19-month layoff during which he contemplated retirement. The Nicaraguan legend’s return was confirmed at a press conference, with himself, promoter Felix “Tuto” Zabala Jr. and his manager, Carlos Blandon. At the press conference, Zabala said:  “Roman was always a dream to have and now we are making it reality. This will be a special one.” He continued: “We have been diligently working in the country for over 20 years developing boxing in the region and producing world title fights.” 

Zabala revealed to Fight Freaks Unite that the fight would be at junior bantamweight or possibly slightly over the division limit. The historic homecoming bout for “Chocolatito” will be his first in his own country since defeated Valentin Leon by third-round knockout in February 2015. 

Reflecting on the announcement of his homecoming fight: “I am super happy and excited to be fighting in front of all my family, the Nicaraguan people,” Gonzalez said through an interpreter at the news conference.

Defeat and Future Aims

Gonzalez lost in his last fight by majority decision in the trilogy fight to rival Juan Francisco Estrada for the lineal and vacant WBC junior bantamweight title in December 2022. The legendary Nicaraguan has won world titles at strawweight, junior flyweight, flyweight and junior bantamweight.

Despite his past success, he still aspires for more glory and wants to win a world title in a fifth division at bantamweight before he retires: “It will be a dream come true if I can crown myself a six-time champion in five different divisions here in Nicaragua,” Gonzalez said.