Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez vs Julio Cesar Martinez – Results & Post-Fight Report

The vacant WBC Diamond super flyweight title was claimed by Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, as the Nicaraguan took a stunning unanimous decision win against Julio Cesar Martinez.

Martinez was stepping up at short notice from flyweight, where he is WBC champion, and was filling in for Juan Francisco Estrada, who was forced to withdraw. The contest nearly didn’t materialise as the Mexican failed to make weight, and the belt was only on the line here for Gonzalez. Chocolatito had previously reigned as world champion from minimum weight to super flyweight, and was coming off a thrilling points loss to Estrada in March last year.

Gonzalez allowed Martinez to get his punches off in the opening round, but once he had felt what the Mexican had to offer, he pretty much controlled the fight. Gonzalez landed with an uppercut and a left hand in the second, but the two exchanged wildly, especially in round three. Round four saw Gonzalez land the meatier blows, but Martinez fired in an eight punch combination, and a right hand drove Gonzalez back. The pattern was pretty much set, and in the sixth, Gonzalez wobbled Martinez with a massive left hand in what was controlled aggression from the veteran of over 50 contests, and ahead of the seventh, Martinez was complaining of tiredness, and that drove Gonzalez further forward. It was fast becoming a dazzling performance from Chocolatito, and the remaining rounds became a procession, with the penultimate frame seeing Martinez hurt by a straight right hand, but somehow, he stayed on his feet. Gonzalez fired right until the final bell in what was an astonishing performance, and there was only one winner as the fight went to the cards.

Scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 it Gonzalez back on the map, and back in the mix for big fights.

Mauricio Lara made a first appearance of 2022, coming off a technical draw in his rematch with Josh Warrington, and the Mexican scored a third round knockout in his featherweight contest with Emilio Sanchez. Sanchez was down in the opener, but buzzed Lara in round three, before a volley of spiteful punches, the last ones right on the bell, knocked Sanchez out.

Angel Fierro and Juan Carlos Burgos couldn’t be separated, as their contest for the WBO NABO lightweight title ended in a draw. One tally at 96-94 for Burgos was overruled by two at 95-95.

Souleymane Cissokho kept his WBA Intercontinental super welterweight title, getting off the canvas to take a points win against Roberto Valenzuela Jr. Cissokho was down in the fourth from a flurry of punches, but he decked Valenzuela in the same round with a single right hand. Cissokho dominated in the main, and took the win by scores of 100-90, and two at 99-91.

At light heavyweight, Diego Pacheco scored a second round knockout win against Genc Pllana, and at lightweight, Marc Castro remained unbeaten with a six round points win against Julio Madera, although he was floored in the second round.

Skye Nicholson made her pro debut, and the Aussie took a six round win on the cards against Jessica Juarez at super featherweight. Fernando Angel Molina won a six round decision at lightweight against Miguel Angel Perez Aispuro, and at super bantamweight, Anthony Herrera knocked out Jose Toribio in the fourth and final round.