By Pablo Fletes, notifight.com
Four division world champion Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) said on Thursday that he would like to do a non-title fight, in preparation, for a possible showdown against World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight champion Kalid "Kal" Yafai.
There is talk that Gonzalez and his team are targeting a fight with Yafai for March 18 of next year.
Yafai (22-0, 14 KOs) is scheduled to defend his title against Sho Ishida on October 28th in Cardiff, as part of the Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev undercard.
However, Chocolatito recognizes that the last word will come from his promoter Akihiko Honda. The boxer will meet with his promoter in a few weeks, taking advantage of a scheduled trip to Japan to support his friend and aspiring world champion Ryota Murata, who on the 22nd of October will challenge Frenchman Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam, who is the current WBA "regular" middleweight champion.
"I am never going to [enter the Yafai] fight in bad condition. In all of my fights I take good care of myself, that's why I think I need a preparation fight and then go for a world title," said Gonzalez.
"But the person who has the last word is Mr. Honda, I would accept the fight if he proposes to go directly with Yafai."
Gonzalez is looking to recover his career, after losing back to back fights to Thai puncher Sor Rungvisai. Last month in Carson, California - Gonzalez was knocked out cold in four rounds by Sor Rungvisai.
For that rematch, he was trained by Japanese coach Sendai Tanaka, but Gonzalez revealed that he would like to train under the orders of Don Felix, the father and head trainer of retired Hall of Famer Félix "Tito" Trinidad of Puerto Rico.
"That's my dream, to train with Tito Trinidad's dad and always with the Teiken Promotions family," Gonzalez said.
2023-10-19 17:01:52
