Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez will get a second consecutive hometown headliner as he awaits one more – or one last – title shot.
The legendary former four-division champion is set to face Mexico’s Hector Robles, Gueguense Box Promotions confirmed on Thursday. The bout will headline a September 12 show from Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in Gonzalez’s hometown of Managua, Nicaragua.
Gonzalez, 52-4 (42 KOs) appeared at this very venue in his previous outing, a tenth-round knockout of Rober Barrera last July 12. The bout ended a 19-month ring absence for the future Hall of Famer, who hoped to return to the ring much earlier this year.
There were previous advanced talks in place for Gonzalez to challenge WBO 115lbs titlist Phumulele Cafu, 11-0-3 (8 KOs) in Nicaragua. However, plans fell through just as both sides hoped to finalize terms for a springtime title fight.
Cafu will instead face lineal and WBC champ Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in a July 19 unification clash in Frisco, Texas.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez will go this route in what becomes a second straight rust shaker. The 38-year-old will have been out of the ring for 14 months by the time he meets Robles, 13-8-3 (4 KOs), who fights outside of Mexico for the first time in his nine-year pro career.
Even against a version of Gonzalez in the twilight of his career, Robles massively steps up in class. The journeyman from Monterrey has fallen short against his most notable competition, including a November 2020 knockout defeat to then-unbeaten countryman David Cuellar.
Robles will enter this fight on the heels of an eight-round, unanimous decision over Gerardo Rodriguez, 4-4 (1 KO) on May 8 in Monterrey. The bout was at flyweight, though he’s also fought at junior bantamweight, where his matchup with Gonzalez will take place.
Gonzalez has won titles at strawweight, junior flyweight, flyweight and junior bantamweight.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on and .
