Editorials

Roman Gonzalez Begins Preparation for Srisaket Sor Rungvisai

No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and WBC Super Flyweight champion, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-0-0, 38 KOs) is preparing to take on mandatory challenger, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (41-4-1, 38 KOs) of Thailand.

Roman Gonzalez - Ismael Gallardo

Photo by Ismael Gallardo/RBRBoxing

No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and WBC Super Flyweight champion, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-0-0, 38 KOs) is preparing to take on mandatory challenger, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (41-4-1, 38 KOs) of Thailand, on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at The Mecca of Boxing–Madison Square Garden.

The bout will be the co-main attraction to Gennady Golovkin‘s Middleweight clash against Daniel Jacobs which will air live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Gonzalez is coming off of a hard-fought 12-round decision victory over former WBC titleholder, Carlos Cuadras, on September 10 at The Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles. Cuadras, who hopes to land a rematch with Chocolatito, will also be part of the undercard as he takes on David Carmona.

But before any talks of a rematch with Cuadras can intensify, Gonzalez must handle business against Sor Rungvisai who will be no walk in the park.

“I have no problem giving Carlos Cuadras a rematch, but right now my focus is on Sor Rungvisai who is my mandatory for the WBC.”

While Gonzalez has a difficult task in front of him in terms of his opponent, the Nicaraguan fighter must also acclimate himself to life without his longtime trainer, Arnulfo Obando.

This will be Gonzalez’s first training camp since Obando’s passing at the young age of 54 so it will be interesting to see how Gonazlez responds on fight night to a corner led by his father, Luis Gonzalez, and Wilmer Hernandez who both worked as assistants to Obando.

Sor Rungvisai is a 30-year-old southpaw fighter with an 83 percent knockout ratio. Although Sor Rungvisai lost a technical decision to the aforementioned Cuadras back in 2014, his level of opponents haven’t exactly been top-notch lately.

The Thai fighters last six bouts have all been six-round affairs and the last two were against fighters making their pro debut.

Still, Gonzalez is not overlooking his opponent and knows that Sor Rungvisai’s power can be a difference maker.

“Sor Rungvisai is a very tough fighter who wants my title. His fighting style suits me, however I have to be careful because of his power,” said Gonzalez who seemed to lack a bit of the pop in his first fight at Super Flyweight that he possessed in lower weight divisions.

“I have all the tools to beat him. He has power, but not much else but I also have to watch for possible head-butts,” said Gonzalez.

Header photo by Chris Farina/K2

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