Roman Gonzalez vs Juan Francisco Estrada December 3rd, 2022
Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez of Nicaragua and Juan Francisco Estrada will be meeting for the third time when they battle for the Ring and the vacant WBC World Super Flyweight Titles. The 12-round bout this Saturday, December 3rd can be seen live from Arizona in most nations on DAZN. Gonzalez last fought in March when he beat Julio Cesar Martinez by 12-round unanimous decision for the vacant WBC Diamond Super Flyweight Title. Estrada last boxed in September when he beat Argi Cortes by 12-round unanimous decision. Conzalez and Estrada last met in March 2021 with Estrada wining a highly-controversial 12-round split decision. They first met in 2012 with Gonzalez taking a 12-round unanimous decision.
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Gonzalez vs Estrada Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Juan Francisco Estrada +160
- Roman Gonzalez -200
My Pick
The 35-year-old Gonzalez enters the fight with an impressive mark of 51-3 with 41 Kos. He suffered back-to-back losses to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand by majority decision and fourth-round stoppage in 2017 for first two pro losses and then took a year off before stopping Moises Fuentes in the fifth round in 2018. He then took another 15-month layoff before stopping Diomel Diocos in the second round in December, 2019 before stopping Khalid Yafai just two months later to take his WBA Super Flyweight Crown.
He defended it against Israel Gonzalez and was then edged by Estrada for his third career loss. Gonzalez was known as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers on the planet before running into Rungvisai and since returning to the ring he’s made a strong case to re re-inserted into the top-10 pound-for-pound list with his performances.
Gonzalez is a four-division world champion as he won the WBC Super Flyweight title in September, 2016 before meeting Rungvisai. He has also been a titleholder at minimumweight, light-flyweight and flyweight. He still has plenty of power with a current knockout ratio of 76 per cent but Gonzalez’s mobility allows him to control the ring and he likes to use his aggression to unleash quick, painful combinations on his opponents whenever he sees an opening. He’s not the best defensive boxer in the world and there’s a slight question mark about his chin.
Gonzalez turned pro in 2005 and has 283 rounds of experience since then. He stands 5-feet-3-inches tall and has a wingspan of 64 inches. He’s faced some good opposition over the years with wins over Julio Cesar Martinez, Khalid Yafai, McWilliams Arroyo, Akira Yaegashi, Rocky Fuentes, Valentin Leon, Edgar Sosa, Brian Viloria, Omar Salado, Omar Soto, Francisco Rosas, Katsunari Takayama, Yutaka Niida and Manuel Vargas.
The 32 year-old Estrada enters the ring with a record of 43-3 with 28 Ko’s. He’s a former WBO and WBA Flyweight Champion who won the WBC Super Flyweight Ttitle in April, 2019 when he edged Srisaket Sor Rungvisai by a close unanimous decision in a rematch. Estrada lost a majority decision to Rungvisai just over a year earlier. Estrada stands 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 66-inch reach which gives him an inch edge in height on Gonazlez and a two-inch reach advantage.
Estrada turned pro back in 2008 and has boxed 310 rounds since then after a good amateur career. He’s never been stopped but had to get off the canvas in the third round against Carlos Cuadras in 2020 when he looked like he was close to being stopped. His other two losses came by way of unanimous decision to Gonzalez in 2012 in his first attempt at the WBA title and to Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. by an eight-round unanimous decision in 2011.
Estrada also has better-than-average power with a current knockout ratio of 61 per cent. His biggest wins have been against Gonzalez, Rungvisai, Cuadras (twice), Hernan Marquez, Giovani Segura, Milan Melindo, Brian Viloria, Rommel Asenjo and Richie Mepranum. He reportedly had a 100-15 mark in the amateurs and was the WBO World Flyweight Champ from April 2013 to October 2016 and made five defences. He was the WBA Super World Flyweight Champ at the same time and also defended that belt five times.
Prediction…
Estrada is just as fast with his hands as Chocolatito but doesn’t possess the same power. He’s a good long-range fighter and accurate counterpuncher but wasn’t aggressive enough in their first meeting. That changed in their second outing as the pair of them threw a super flyweight-record 2,529 punches with Estrada landing 314 of 1,212 and Gonzalez connecting on 391 of 1,317 punches. Gonzalez needs to stay close and throw punches in bunches again while cutting off the ring and going to the body while Estrada needs to utilize his fine jab. I thought Gonzalez won the rematch last year and doesn’t really need to change his strategy. Once again, this is an excellent matchup and no outcome will be surprising including a draw. However, I’m taking Gonzalez again.
A tossup with Gonzalez having the slightest of edges due to his power.
Play: Roman Gonzalez -200 @ BetOnline.ag
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Juan Francisco Estrada betting • Roman Gonzalez betting