Roman Gonzalez vs Francisco Rosas 2

Three knockdowns in the second round settled a rematch whose first instalment had lasted the full twelve rounds. At the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on 24 October 2010, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez knocked out Francisco “Chiquita” Rosas after one minute 38 seconds of the second round to win the vacant WBA interim light flyweight championship. The undefeated Nicaraguan, aged 23, had previously held the organisation’s minimumweight title. His move into the 108-pound division brought an emphatic victory over an opponent who had given him considerable difficulty at the lighter weight.

Their first meeting, in Oaxaca on 28 February 2009, had ended in a majority decision for Gonzalez. Afterwards, he attributed his laboured performance to stomach trouble. Rosas therefore entered the return contest with the experience of having competed with him over the championship distance. Gonzalez had originally been expected to meet WBA champion Juan Carlos Reveco, but the Argentine withdrew after requiring surgery for kidney stones. Rosas took his place, and the interim championship became the prize. Gonzalez entered with 26 victories, including 22 stoppages, while the Mexican’s record stood at 21 wins, seven defeats and two draws. The contest formed part of a Teiken promotion headed by Toshiaki Nishioka’s WBC super bantamweight defence against Rendall Munroe.

Gonzalez established the initiative in the opening round, attacking both head and body with hooks and forceful right hands. Rosas was immediately required to withstand a much more effective assault than in their previous meeting. The Nicaraguan himself went to the canvas during the round, but referee Takeshi Shimakawa ruled the incident a slip. It did not alter the direction of the contest. Gonzalez’s varied punching gave him the advantage, and all three judges, Silvestre Abainza, Chris Ritter and Derek Milham, scored the completed round 10–9 in his favour.

Rosas briefly checked the attack at the beginning of the second round, catching Gonzalez with a right hook that momentarily unsettled him. The opportunity passed quickly. Gonzalez recovered and landed an uppercut to produce the first knockdown. Rosas rose, but further punches put him down again, and Gonzalez maintained his attack when the Mexican resumed. A third knockdown ended the contest, with Shimakawa intervening at one minute 38 seconds. Rosas had shown a willingness to answer back, but he could no longer withstand the succession of clean blows. The official result was a second-round knockout, with all three knockdowns occurring within that round.

The victory advanced Gonzalez to 27 wins without defeat, 23 of them inside the distance. Rosas fell to 21 wins, eight losses and two draws, with 12 knockout victories. Gonzalez’s success rested on his ability to combine punches to the body and head and to regain control immediately after being caught himself. The close decision in Oaxaca had been followed by a conclusive finish in Tokyo. Afterwards, he dedicated the victory to his Japanese supporters and said, in translation, “I like Japan and feel at home here.” The interim title established his position at light flyweight, and in February 2011 the WBA elevated him to full champion after Reveco relinquished the championship to pursue a title at flyweight.

In my opinion, this rematch showed why Gonzalez deserved attention beyond the smaller divisions. Rosas had taken him the distance in their first meeting, and Roman’s explanation about stomach trouble needed backing up in the ring. This time, he supplied it. Rosas was overwhelmed in two rounds, with three knockdowns settling the argument.

What I rate is the punch selection. Gonzalez worked the body and head, mixing hooks with hard right hands rather than throwing everything at the same target. That gives a defending fighter several problems at once. Rosas had courage, but courage alone wasn’t going to stop Gonzalez’s punches. Chocolatito's appeal was already clear: plenty of action, backed by high-level skill.

He wasn’t faultless. Rosas caught him with a right hook early in the second and briefly shook him. But Gonzalez recovered, answered with an uppercut and took control immediately. I’d take that response seriously. Getting caught happens; keeping your judgement afterwards matters. Rosas earned respect for trying, but he was comprehensively beaten.