Despite the criticism over Tyson Fury’s unasked for third fight with Derek Chisora this weekend, there is in fact a trilogy contest taking place that has sparked the excitement of boxing fans.
Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez will lock horns again in Arizona on Saturday night for the WBC super flyweight world championship, and many observers are expecting a repeat of their 2021 Fight Of The Year candidate.
The rivalry began all the way back in 2012, when mercurial Nicaraguan Gonzalez won a comfortable unanimous decision against the then 22-year-old Estrada in a light flyweight world title bout.
In the nine years between their first two encounters, the pair – alongside Sisraket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras – helped to elevate the prominence of the lower weight divisions to a level never before seen, with the quartet justifiably earning the moniker of ‘the four kings.’
Last year’s meeting between Estrada and Gonzalez has been remembered for a degree of controversy alongside the awe inspiring pugilism on display. Despite many believing ‘Chocolatito’ had done the better work over the 12 rounds, Estrada was awarded a split decision victory by the judges in Dallas and thus became a unified world champion at super flyweight.
The two have delivered somewhat contrasting performances in the past 18 months. Gonzalez, now 35, looked as good as ever as he dismantled WBC flyweight world champion Julio Cesar Martinez in May of this year.
Estrada, on the other hand, was ran closer than he’d have probably liked by previously unheralded opponent Argi Cortes in September, a 7th round knockdown enough for ‘Gallo’ to edge out a tight unanimous points win.
Fans can be assured both men will be at their very best for the legacy defining fight this weekend, in what is due to be a spectacular conclusion to arguably the best era the 115lbs division has produced in the modern era.