By Joe Koizumi
Formerly four-division champ Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (48-2, 40 KOs), 115.75, Nicaragua, decked a fine comeback after a fifteen-month hiatus when he lopsidedly battered Filipino Diomel Diocos (14-6-3, 4 KOs), 115.5, downed him to the ropes and then halted him at 2:20 of the second round beneath a world title tripleheader on Monday in Yokohama, Japan.
Gonzalez started cautiously, but soon took the initiative and accelerated his work rate, whipping the Filipino from all angles. The second saw Chocolatito land a big right to pin him to the ropes with a flurry of punches, when the referee Fukuchi took the mandatory eight count. Though it resumed, the Nicaraguan swarmed over him with the ref’s well-received intervention.
Chocolatito proudly said, “I’ll regain the world belt in 2020 and dedicate it to Nicaragua and Japan.”
Why did the referee take an 8 count? Was he knocked down too?
When a fighter is receiving considerable punishment and his vertical is at risk, the referee can take an 8-count as a breather. In Europe and Asia is the norm.
good to see chocolatito back
Chocolatito is fine at 31 as long as he stays away from the top Thai fighters at 112 and 115. Jerwin Ancajas, Daigo Higa, Julio Cesar Martinez Aguilar, Jakkrawut Majoogoen, Artem Dalakian, Moruti Mthalane. All are tests for Chocolatito.
Chocolatito is a super flyweight, 115 pounder, he won’t fight a fly weight unless they come up to his weight. Ancajas, Ioka, Estrada, and Yafai are all of great interest for Chocolatito because they are world champions. I personally think that his career hasn’t been guided properly in the later part of it. Since he fought Estrada, I knew that he would find greater opposition in the higher weights, but little attention was given to try to modify his fighting style. I felt that his frontal style would give him trouble against bigger opposition. Boxing from outside, using lateral movement and flexing his waist, would only enrich his arsenal. I also felt that a change of trainer would help him. Obando had thought him all he knew, and his learning had reached its top. After Obando passed, no one has filled the void. The present trainer Mr. Caballero is adequate at the moment but when bigger challenges come, he is going to need a more experience cornerman. The future of his career will depend on the points I explained.
.