Photo by Chris Farina/K2
Saturday night on HBO, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (45-0, 38 KOs) takes on Carlos “Principe” Cuadras (35-0-1, 27 KOs) at The Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, CA.
Carlos Cuadras will be defending his WBC Junior Bantamweight title for the seventh time, while Gonzalez is moving up in weight, looking to win a world title in a fourth weight class.
This fight has been somewhat under the radar, but it will be showcasing Chocolatito who is generally regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer right now and Cuadras who may not be as well-known, but is arguably one of the best Junior Bantamweights in the sport today.
Carlos Cuadras is 28 years, he is 5’4’’ with a 66’’ inch reach, comparably to Roman Gonzalez who is 29 years old, is 5’3’’ with a 64’’ inch reach. They have very similar builds, but Cuadras will likely have a slight weight advantage going into the ring.
Though Cuadras is an experienced champion, fighting Gonzalez is not only a step up in competition but his biggest exposure and his chance to get the recognition he deserves.
Cuadras is a Mexican-style fighter but he is also very smart defensively, with great technique and a high ring IQ. Gonzalez has quick hands and superb footwork, who is also a technical fighter with the ability to adapt to his opposition and do so very effectively.
This is the kind of matchup boxing fans want to see. Cuadras vs. Gonzalez is undeniably going to be a very competitive fight and a fight very hard to predict the outcome. These two warriors are putting it all on the line and someone’s O has got to go.
Keep reading for the three keys to victory for Carlos “Principe” Cadres versus Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.
1. Earn Respect Early On
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Earning Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez’s respect is key. Carlos Cuadras needs to be aggressive and show Gonzalez his power early on in this fight.
If Cuadras can earn Gonzalez’s respect or even surprise him with his pressure and the power he packs behind his punches, this will set himself up for victory.
With 27 knockouts, Cuadras has proven that he has the power to end fights prematurely.
Cuadras is used to fighting in this weight class, fighting bigger guys than Gonzalez, so if he can establish himself as the bully in this fight, he will have the ability to control the pace of this fight.
And Cuadras believes he has the power to beat Roman Gonzalez.
2. Establish the Jab
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Carlos Cuadras must establish his jab to win this fight. Roman Gonzalez has quick hands and feet, if Cuadras can establish his jab he will be able to slow Gonzalez down and again set the tone for the fight.
Cuadras needs to use his jab in order to throw off Gonzalez’s offensive game plan, establishing an effective jab will force Gonzalez to be more defensive and fight on his back foot.
An effective jab also often frustrates opponents, by doing this it will allow Cuadras to follow up his jabs with devastating blows.
His jab won’t end the fight, but it could set up the opportunity to land power punches that could stun Gonzalez.
3. Work Behind His Combinations
Photo by Naoki Fukada
Another key to victory for Carlos Cuadras is to work behind his combinations. Cuadras throws impressive, quick combinations with power in both hands.
Not only are Cuadras’ combinations effective when he is the aggressor but he is able to land combinations when moving backwards as well.
With Roman Gonzalez’s speed and aggressive style, working behind his combinations will help Cuadras win rounds and if this fight goes to the scorecards, give him the edge to come out ahead.
Cuadras is good at working the angles and paired with his powerful combination punches, though Gonzalez is master of adaptability–this may be just too much for him to handle.
