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Highlights: Estrada Edges Chocolatito In Trilogy Thriller

Written by Kerr Ferguson on 4th December 2022.

Estrada and Chocolatito Highlights

Juan Francisco Estrada was crowned WBC Super Flyweight Champion after a close third contest with Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.

If boxing fans were looking for a competitive trilogy fight that promised a back-and-forth war, they needed only to look Stateside to Arizona, where Estrada and Gonzalez were meeting for the third time in the ring to fight for the vacant WBC belt.

Despite the first round being tentative, Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) got out of the gates quicker than ‘Chocolatito’ (51-4, 41 KOs), his timing likely taking it for him on the scorecards. The same happened in both the first and second bouts. In the sort of contest where one round might make the difference, it would prove vital for the Mexican come decision time.

Estrada’s pace only quickened though, and there was an argument at the halfway stage that he had banked the majority of rounds. ‘Chocolatito’ had a dose of adrenalin from then on, clearing any doubts that the trilogy bout was coming too late in a long career and making it as compelling a fight as fans have come to expect from the two.

His work was so impressive that a draw could be argued, even a win, however the decision certainly won’t draw the same response as the second fight.

The scores were announced as 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113, forming a razor thin majority decision for Estrada. It follows a win for ‘Chocolatito’ in their first fight, and a controversial split decision in favour of Estrada in the second.

Chocolatito, who will end up in the hall-of-fame, said he wanted a fourth fight if it paid well, and considering what these two have given boxing fans over the years, it should.

In very rare cases, boxing presents a pairing that is so close, so competitive, and so thrilling that fans would be happy to see a fourth fight. Estrada and Gonzalez fall into that category.

Watch full highlights courtesy fo DAZN YouTube channel: