Roman Gonzalez vs. McWilliams Arroyo
Liam Brady, Staff Writer/Graphic Designer
This has the potential to be an entertaining fight, particularly when you consider both fighters and their knockout ratios.
Nevertheless, I love the combination punching of Roman Gonzalez, which is riveting to watch.
The fight could have back-and-forth action, though I see Gonzalez coming out on top via his aforementioned combinations.
I predict a stoppage win for Gonzalez, who will eventually make McWilliams Arroyo capitulate within six to eight rounds.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Chris Nicastro, Staff Writer
The Little Drama Show should do much of the same as Gennady Golovkin. McWilliams Arroyo is a good fighter, but he brings nothing to the table that Chocolatito isn’t already familiar with.
Roman Gonzalez will outwork Arroyo from the start of the bell and won’t give up more than a round or two. Arroyo should be another easy knockout for the pound-for-pound king of the ring.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
Despite the significant difference in experience, McWilliams Arroyo is a worthy opponent. I know he’s not Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue, but he’s no slouch.
Arroyo had a decorated amateur career, but as a pro, he’s a boxer puncher that can close the show (all but two of his 16 wins were decided before going the distance).
All that said, as solid a fighter as Arroyo is, he’s gonna need a crowbar against Chocolatito. Roman Gonzalez is perfection; it’s the little things like slight head movement in the pocket, punch selection and his ability to cut off the ring that makes this seem like mission impossible for Arroyo.
I do believe that Arroyo will hang around long enough to make this interesting, but I predict Gonzalez stops him down the stretch.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Art Hernandez, Photographer
Prediction: Gonzalez
Jack O’Connell, Staff Writer
Roman Gonzalez vs. McWilliams Arroyo is a sleeper hit in the making. With their guards up tight and chins tucked in, both flyweights will clash head first and strike sparks.
At first glance, Gonzalez and Arroyo have almost identical techniques. Both come forward with high guards, looking to take turns unloading powerful combinations, mixing it up to the head and body. Neither fighter is much of a counter puncher, as they will patiently wait for their opponent to unload before they do so themselves.
What separates the fighters, however, are the fine details. Gonzalez’s combinations are consistently crisp and compact, when at times Arroyo can get messy. Arroyo’s jab is less snappy and assertive than Gonzalez’s. While Arroyo’s power punch is his left hook, Gonzalez is effective with nearly every shot.
Finally, Gonzalez’s balance is near perfection. In contrast, Arroyo stands a bit too straight, leaving himself unready when his opponent moves. Against the savvy Amnant Ruenroeng, Arroyo struggled to get off punches whenever Ruenroeng shifted positions in the ring.
The odds makers have “Chocolatito” Gonzalez a massive favorite over Arroyo. All things considered, the fight should be much, much closer than the odds predict. However, while Arroyo is a solid opponenet, Chocolatito is the pound-for-pound best for a reason. Arroyo will hang around for 12 combative rounds, but all roads lead to a Gonzalez decision. Gonzalez by an action-packed decision.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Shelbi Keyes, Staff Writer
Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (44-0, 30 KOs) and McWilliams Arroyo (16-2, 14 KOs) will face off in the co-main event on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin vs. Dominic Wade. For the past two years Gonzalez and Golovkin have been a routine card pairing—some have called it the “Big Drama Show/Little Drama Show”—with the next episode airing on HBO this Saturday night. Gonzalez will be defending his WBC flyweight title against Arroyo, a former amateur world champion.
Since Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s retirement last year, Roman Gonzalez has emerged as the widely-chosen top pound-for-pound star (both The Transnational Boxing Rankings and The Ring have him ranked as number one). Gonzalez has an extremely impressive resume, along with an undefeated record, and he is a three-division world champion.
Though many American boxing fans might not be familiar with Arroyo, he is said to be a worthy challenger. Dismissing this bout as an “easy win” for Gonzalez or describing Arroyo as “just another cab driver opponent” would be a mistake. Arroyo has a high ring IQ, great head movement and the ability to mix up his attack distributing both head and body shots.
This fight is undoubtedly going to be one to remember, both fighters have huge knockout percentages and both come into this fight confident that they will leave with the belt. But if Gonzalez comes into this fight prepared to do what he normally does—cut off the ring and unleash blistering head and body shots—I believe he will record yet another impressive win, ending the fight prematurely.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
This fight will be fun while it lasts. You’ve got two guys who like to come forward, throw powerful combinations and are looking to make a statement.
Roman Gonzalez is the consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and hopes to catapult himself into a headlining gig after this fight, while McWilliams Arroyo is trying to win a title after losing a questionable decision to Amnat Ruenroeng.
I like Arroyo to have some minor success early on, but Chocolatito, with his masterful inside-game, will be too powerful and precise and earn a stoppage victory.
Prediction: Gonzalez
