The boxing world had written off Roman Gonzalez after suffering back-to-back losses to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017.
Well, some fighters fall, some rise. Coming into Saturday's contest against WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez, Gonzalez had won four of his last five with the defeat being a controversial split decision loss to Juan Francisco Estrada in March 2021.
Gonzalez exemplified why the Estrada fight was a rebounding moment too, as he used his precision striking to batter Martinez to win by unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 116-112) at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego. DAZN News scored the fight 118-110 for Gonzalez.
Martinez had a successful opening round by letting his hands go and throwing combinations. However, Gonzalez (51-3, 41 KOs) realized he could absorb Martinez's power and went to work in the second round until the final bell. Countless combinations, pounding the body, superior footwork, relentless pressure, and being the stronger of the two allowed "Chocolatito" to get back on the winning track for his fifth win out of his last six fights.
Martinez (18-2, 14 KOs, two no-contests) had his 20-fight unbeaten streak snapped.
Here is what happened at Chocolatito vs. Martinez.