© Provided by Boxing Junkie The rematch between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez probably should've happened long before this Saturday.
After all, the mighty mites met for the first time more than eight years ago, in November 2012, when the hard-charging, power-punching "Chocolatito" was on his way to becoming pound-for-pound king and Estrada, although a fringe contender, was just getting started.
The result wasn't surprising - Gonzalez by unanimous decision - but Estrada took many onlookers aback by pushing the great Nicaraguan fighter to the limit. He clearly was one to watch going forward.
And so much happened since then.
Gonzalez ultimately reached the pinnacle of the sport, winning titles in four divisions and topping most pound-for-pound lists, only to fall hard from his perch when he lost back-to-back fights to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017.
The second setback, a brutal fourth-round knockout, seemed to signal the end to Gonzalez's remarkable run as an elite fighter.
And then he surprised us. Gonzalez, whose longtime trainer Arnulfo Obando had died before the Sor Rungvisai fights, took a year off, came to terms with the loss of his mentor and turned his fortunes around in his 30s. He has won four consecutive fights, including a ninth-round knockout of Khalid Yafai to regain a 115-pound title in February of last year.
"I felt that I had accomplished one more dream in my life," he told Bad Left Hook after the Yafai fight. "I didn't have anything to prove to anyone, just to myself and my team. I am thankful with God that he gave me the opportunity to fight such a great champion that I admire, and it was an honor to share the ring with him.
"The rest of the people will always have their opinions, and I respect them, but I'm not concerned about them."
© Provided by Boxing Junkie Roman Gonzalez celebrates his victory over Khalid Yafai, which completed a remarkable comeback. Tom Pennington / Getty Images
Meanwhile, Estrada realized the potential he revealed in his loss to Gonzalez at the old Sports Arena in Los Angeles in 2012.
The complete boxer-puncher from Mexico won two 112-pound titles in his next fight, outpointing Brian Viloria and defeated a series of top-level little men (Milan Melindo, Giovani Segura and Carlos Cuadras, among them) before finally avenging a loss to Sor Rungvisai by outpointing the Thai to win his 115-pound in April 2019.
Estrada is now the pound-for-pounder. He's No. 10 on Boxing Junkie's list and the No. 2 fighter from Mexico after Canelo Alvarez.
That brings us to Saturday, when Estrada (41-3, 28 KOs) and Gonzalez (50-2, 41 KOs) will put their respective titles on the line at American Airlines Arena in Dallas.
Estrada, 30, has the opportunity to underscore his place among the best fighters in the world with a victory over his celebrated rival. If Estrada isn't destined to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, he likely would clinch that honor with a victory.
© Provided by Boxing Junkie Juan Francisco Estrada is coming off an impressive stoppage of Carlos Cuadras. Jeff Gross / Getty Images
And he has extra motivation: He wants to say he has beaten every man he's faced after avenging losses to Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. and Sor Rungvisai.
"I have had three defeats in my career, of which . two I have already avenged. I only need one [more]," he said on social media.
Gonzalez? A victory over Yafai is one thing, one over Estrada is another.
"Chocolatito" has already completed one of the most-impressive comebacks in recent memory, rising from the ashes of his back-to-back setbacks four years ago to regain a major title against a previously unbeaten opponent.
However, to regain his place on pound-for-pound lists or at least consideration, he'll have to repeat his victory of 2012.
Marcos Caballero, the man who took Obando's place as Gonzalez's trainer, told Viva Nicaragua that his protege understands the magnitude of the moment. And he insists Gonzalez will be ready for the challenge.
"We know the quality of the opponent," he said, "but we trust that in the ring, the one who arrives better prepared and with the best strategy, will win. That will be us."
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