WBC flyweight champion Nicaragua's own Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, (44-0, 38 KO’s) is set to return to LA as he takes on McWilliams Arroyo (16-2, 14 KO’s) of Puerto Rico. Gonzalez and Arroyo square off Saturday April 23 at the Forum in Inglewood, California live on HBO World Championship Boxing. We spoke to "Chocolatito" as he talked about his upcoming fight with Arroyo and his plans for 2016.
"I want to thank god, my family, team, and HBO for giving me the opportunity to fight in the same card as Golovkin. Hopefully everything goes well come April 23," Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez told Southern California Boxing.com "I am hoping that with the help of my team Teiken Promotions and the support from HBO, I can one day headline my card" Gonzalez added.
"Chocolatito" begins his training camp this week in his home country of Nicaragua.
"We will begin training for this fight in Nicaragua in the same gym I have been training since I was a kid," Chocolatito said.
Coming off a dominant stoppage over former world champion Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria, "Chocolatito" was impressive in his HBO Pay per view and Madison Square Garden debut last October. In his previous fight, he destroyed former world champion Edgar Sosa in two rounds in his debut at Forum, the same venue where Nicaraguan idol and legend Alexis Arguello won his first world title over Ruben Olivares in becoming Nicaragua's first boxing world champion.
"It was a great experience to share two cards with Golovkin fighting at the Forum and Madison Square Garden. We were victorious against Edgar Sosa with a second round knockout. The big fight against Viloria, thank god I came out victorious," Gonzalez said.
His Puerto Rican counterpart Arroyo, scored a TKO in his last fight over Victor Ruiz nearly one year ago. Having only 18 bouts this will be Arroyo's second shot at a world title as he came up short against current IBF flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng in September of 2014.
"McWilliams is a very strong, young, fighter. I feel this will be an excellent fight between the two of us," Gonzalez said.
With the fans and public demanding a rematch with current WBA and WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco "Gallito" Estrada and rumors of a fight with former world champion Giovanni Segura. We asked "Chocolatito" on his choice of fighting Arroyo and the possibility of a rematch with Estrada.
"In boxing there is always changes I was suppose to fight Segura, "Churritos" Hernandez, then I was given Arroyo. Whoever they put in front of me it doesn't matter because I will be ready for them," Gonzalez said. "My goal is to win that fourth world title and if that is against "Gallo" Estrada I am more than happy to do it," Gonzalez said.
Other potential showdowns include a move up in weight to take on WBC super flyweight champion Naoya Inoue or undefeated Mexican WBC World champion Carlos Cuadras.
"I think hardest and toughest fighter at 115 is Inoue. Cuadras is a good boxer that moves well and throws lots of combinations but he is nothing like Inoue,"
Already at the top of some pound for pound rankings, Chocolatito has won title's at minimum weight, junior flyweight, flyweight and looks to capture a fourth world title. He stopped Yutaka Niida in winning the WBA minimum weight title in 2008, won the vacant WBA interim light flyweight title against Francisco Rosas in 2010 and added a third world title in his his third weight class stopping Akira Yaegashi in nine rounds to win the WBC flyweight title in 2014.
"I believe it motivates me to be on the top of the Pound for Pound list. It makes me just work harder and I stay active in the gym," Chocolatito said. "I am ready my goal is to win that fourth world title and fifth if possible," Chocolatito added.
Gonzalez vs. Arroyo is scheduled for 12 rounds for Gonzalez's WBC flyweight title as it will be the co-feature bout to Gennady "GGG" Golovkin vs. Dominic Wade.
"I will go out there, fight smart, and give the fans a good explosive show," Chocolatito said.
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