Carlos Cuadras vs. Roman Gonzalez
CJ Halloran, Staff Writer
Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez will move up a weight class to face Super Flyweight champion Carlos Cuadras.
I believe this fight will be a challenging fight for Chocolatito, but I believe Gonzalez will emerge victorious.
The only way for Cuadras to win would be to force Gonzalez to fight the way Cuadras wants him to.
Given the incredible skill of Gonzalez however, I do not see this happening. I see the fight ending with Chocolatito winning by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Amber Williams, Photographer
Prediction: Gonzalez
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
This is a good fight on paper. An undefeated Super flyweight champion making his seventh defense, against another undefeated fighter, who is aiming to become a four weight world champion.
However, despite both not tasting defeat, it is conclusive that the résumé of Gonzalez is far greater. Gonzalez will undoubtedly be Cuadras’ toughest opponent yet, whereas Gonzalez has had stellar challenges in the past, namely Juan Francisco Estrada.
Cuadras is very dynamic, a fighter who likes to box from distance on the back foot, but then switch it up by unleashing a flurry of punches on the inside, before getting out of range to evade the opponent’s shots.
Though, during the exchanges on the inside, he can be overzealous, leading to him dropping his hands. This makes him open to counter-shots, particularly hooks and uppercuts.
Cuadras is also constantly on the move, thus making it more awkward for the opponent to land clean shots. I expect Gonzalez to target the body a lot in the fight, in order to slow Cuadras down, so he can create openings to land damaging power punches. Due to both fighters’ styles, there is the potential of some great inside fighting, with combinations galore.
Nonetheless, I see Gonzalez winning this fight late, or by decision. As stated previously, Cuadras can be wide open at times, yet Gonzalez is a lot tighter with his defence during his attacks. I feel he will target the body of Cuadras, in order to slow him down. Then, eventually, he will dominate the rounds with his superior attacking prowess.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Alan Garcia, Staff Writer
Carlos Cuadras and Roman Gonzalez’s fighting styles are tailored made for one another. Their styles are a perfect match to produce a fan pleasing duel of entertainment and high-quality drama. Cuadras is an explosive fighter who will be looking to land long, six and seven-punch combinations.
He makes a good use of the uppercut, going to the body and then upstairs through the middle finishing up with the right hook to the head (a good combination to land on the come-forward Nicaraguan fighter). Cuadras also posses good punching power and counterpunching ability that might be able to rock Gonzalez if he isn’t too careful and decides to get reckless.
The fact that Gonzalez is coming up in weight for this fight gives Cuadras a slight edge. But that shouldn’t mean that being the heavier man he’ll come into the fight blazing with punches trying to over impose his weight, because he could get hurt by Gonzalez. If Cuadras has a chance at winning this fight, he’s going to have to fight a perfect, smart, tactical fight. Cuadras has all of the tools to beat Gonzalez, if he uses them wisely.
Gonzalez is a precise puncher with a very good tight defense. While Cuadras comes forward aggressively, throwing in high volume, Gonzalez will be pin-pointing on the inside with short power punches. This will be good if Gonzalez keeps a calm composure throughout the fight because he has a chance at a TKO in the later half of the fight. Cuadras has shown in his fights that he gets fatigued and if Gonzalez can capitalize on this he has a chance at scoring a late-round stoppage or a knockout due to Cuadras gassing himself out.
In my opinion, I don’t see an X-factor in Gonzalez for me to think he will remain in the top pound-for-pound as speculated. I can’t deny that he’s a very good fighter, but he’s not a great fighter. The opponents that he has faced aren’t great opponents, and the times he’s been expected to blow out those opponents by knockout, he’s had some difficulties doing so and therefore wins the fights by points. What makes this fight against Carlos Cuadras a very appealing fight is that we will find out how good Gonzalez really is.
Both men have so much to gain from this fight and so much to lose and although the boxing world is expecting Gonzalez to win the fight over Cuadras, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cuadras emerges victorious. The confidence that Cuadras has is more than enough for me to pick Cuadras over Gonzalez. Nonetheless, I go with Gonzalez as the favorite to win simply because there is more invested in him and I want to believe he’s as good as the media says he is and makes him out to be.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Shelbi Keyes, Staff Writer
Pound-for-pound rising star Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (45-0, 38 KOs), who has won world titles in three weight classes, is fighting for yet another belt in his fourth weight class Saturday night at The Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, CA.
Carlos “Principe” Cuadras (35-0-1, 27 KOs) will be defending his WBC Junior Bantamweight title.
This should be a very exciting fight with two technical fighters, both with high ring IQ. I foresee Cuadras using “being the bigger man” to his advantage and winning the early rounds of this fight.
But Gonzalez has faster hands and is extremely quick on his feet, if he employs these techniques I believe Gonzalez will come out on top. This will be a very close fight, but I think Gonzalez will outbox Cuadras. I am giving the edge to Chocolatito.
Roman Gonzalez is ranked the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter by many for a reason.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
If you’re reading this, chances are I don’t have to tell you that Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez is No. 1 pound for pound and that his fights are overflow with action.
Since his US debut, he’s won 10 of his last eleven fights by stoppage.
So let’s focus on the lesser known Carlos Cuadras. Cuadras is a legitimate threat to Chocolatito’s attempt at history.
This will be Cuadras’ seventh consecutive title defense, having held this Jr. Bantamweight title for two years.
Cuadras is also a decent puncher with 27 of his 35 wins never reaching the final bell. Stylistically, Cuadras is a boxer-puncher who relies on his jab and movement to control fights.
As solid as Cuadras is as an opponent, and even with a considerable size advantage (for the weight class), I still feel like Gonzalez’s pointed aggression, superior in-fighting and conditioning will help him to cut off the ring and wear Cuadras down when it’s all said and done.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
In Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Carlos “Principe” Cuadras, we have two undefeated little guys who love to throw hands. This is a legacy fight for both guys and one that should provide lots of excitement.
Does Cuadras have a chance? Hell yes. Cuadras is the naturally bigger man and if he can make Gonzalez feel his power early on he could set the tone for the fight.
Chocolatito is impressively going for a title in his fourth weight class, something that no other Nicaraguan–not even his mentor Alexis Arguello–has ever done.
The thing with Chocolatito is that he doesn’t get tired and works the angles beautifully. His inside fighting is magical–like Harry Potter type stuff–and Cuadras will need to work efficiently if he has any hopes of winning.
As good as Gonzalez is, I think this is a toss up fight, but I’m going with Chocolatito to grab victory with a spirited 1000-plus punch performance.
Prediction: Gonzalez
All photos by Chris Farina/K2