Román González (boxer)

Early career

Dubbed "El Chocolatito", an 18 year old González turned pro in the Minimumweight/Light Flyweight divisions in 2005. In his debut, he fought at the Pharaohs Casino in Managua, Nicaragua against 23 year old Ramon Urbina (0-1, 0 KOs) in a scheduled 4 round fight. Gonzalez won via knockout in round 2. In his 9th professional fight, Gonzalez, who had won his first 8 pro fights all by knockout, challenged Oscar Murillo (11-10, 8 KOs) for the vacant Nicaraguan and vacant WBA Fedecentro light flyweight titles. Gonzalez won via a 1st round knockout. Gonzalez won his first 16 fights all by way of knockout, before meeting Hiroshi Matsumoto (17-7-4, 8 KOs) at the Bunka Gym in Yokohama, Japan on January 14, 2008. The fight went the full 10 round as Gonzalez picked up the win via unanimous decision (100-90 twice, 98-92).

González vs. Niida

Gonzalez challenged the WBA world minimumweight champion Yutaka Niida (23-1-3, 9 KOs) in Yokohama, Japan and scored a technical knockout to win the title in 58 seconds of the fourth round on September 15, 2008. Gonzalez was ahead on all three judges scorecards at the time of stoppage (30-27, 3 times).

After winning the WBA title, González made his debut at flyweight on December 13, 2008 where he stopped Miguel Tellez (18-11, 6 KOs) in the 3rd of a 10-round bout.

González vs. Rosas

He went back to minimumweight on February 28, 2009 to defend his world crown against Francisco Rosas (20-5-2, 12 KOs) which he won by majority decision (116-112, 115-113 & 114-114). This was Gonzalez's first time fighting in Mexico.

González vs. Takayama

In July 2009, Gonzalez defended his World title at the World Memorial Hall in Japan against Katsunari Takayama (23-3, 9 KOs). After 12 rounds, the three judges all scored it 118-110 for Gonzalez. In January 2010, Gonzalez knocked out Ivan Meneses (14-5-1, 8 KOs) in round 3, before the fight was stopped in round 4 to retain his world title.

WBA light flyweight champion

After vacating his minimumweight title, Gonzalez moved up light flyweight and defeated Jesus Limones (10-1-1, 4 KOs) via 2nd TKO.

González vs. Rosas

A 23 year old Gonzalez won the vacant WBA Interim Light Flyweight Title against Mexican Francisco Rosas (21-7-2, 12 KOs) in Tokyo on October 24, 2010. This was the second time they fought, having previously fought a minimumweight. Gonzalez won by KO in the second round. Rosas was knocked down three times in this fight. Gonzalez said after his first fight against Francisco Rosas that he had to fight being ill with severe stomach disorders, and that was the reason why he looked so sluggish and tired. Gonzalez was promoted to full champion in February 2011.

Gonzalez was victorious over Mexican boxers, Manuel Vargas (30-7-1, 15 KOs) via unanimous decicion (119-109, 116-112 twice) and Omar Salado (22-3-2, 13 KOs) via round 7 TKO respectively in March and July, both in Mexico, he retained the title.

González vs. Soto

In his third defense, fighting for the first time at the Marquee Ballroom in MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 1, 2011, González knocked out Omar Soto (22-8-2, 15 KOs) with his right straight, left uppercut combinations 36 seconds of the 2nd round. Soto weighed in at 111lb, which is above the weight limit.

Miscellaneous defenses

On March 17, 2012 Gonzalez faced Manuel Jimenez (11-2-1, 5 KOs) at Sinaloa, Mexico, defeating Jimenez via 1st round KO. This was a non-title fight.

On April 28, 2012 Gonzalez defended his WBA World light flyweight title against Ramon Garcia Hirales (16-3-1, 9 KOs) at the Fairplex in Pinomona, California. The fight ended as the count was waived by referee Raul Caiz Jr, after Garcia was knocked down twice in the 4th round. Gonzalez was ahead 30-27 on all three judges scorecards at the time of stoppage.

Flyweight

Gonzalez moved up to Flyweight on October 6, 2012 fighting undefeated 23 year old Stiven Monterrosa (9-0-2, 8 KOs) at the Hotel Holiday Inn in Managua, Nicaragua. Monterrosa was knocked down in rounds 1 and 2.

González vs. Estrada

On 17 November 12, 2012, Gonzalez defeated 22 year old Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada (26-1, 20 KOs) at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in an entertaining unanimous decision. This was the second time Gonzalez was fighting in California and the third time in the United States. The judges scored it (118-110, 116-112 twice) all in favour for Gonzalez. On May 25, Gonzalez stopped Colombian Ronald Barrera (30-11-2, 18 KOs) in five rounds at Polideportivo España, Managua, Nicaragua. Referee Onofre Ramirez stopped the fight in round 5 after Barrera was knocked down.

Miscellaneous fights

On September 21, 2013 he defeated Francisco Rodríguez, Jr. by TKO in the 7th round. He then defeated Mexicans Oscar Blanquet, Juan Kantun and Philippine Juan Purisima, taking his professional record to 39-0, with 33 wins coming by way of knockout.

González vs. Yaegashi

González defeated Akira Yaegashi (20-3, 10 KOs) via ninth-round TKO on September 5, 2014 at the Yoyogi #2 Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan to win the WBC, The Ring and lineal flyweight titles, becoming a boxing triple champion. Yaegashi was knocked down in rounds 3 and 9. Referee Michael Griffin stopped the fight after a final uppercut to Yaegashi. At the time of stoppage the three judges had the fight (80-71 & 79-72 twice) in favour of Gonzalez.

Early defenses

González retained the titles against Rocky Fuentes on November 22, 2014 via sixth-round TKO. Gonzalez fought Valentin Leon in a non-title bout on February 28, 2015, Gonzalez won via a 3rd round TKO.

Gonzalez defeated Mexico's Edgar Sosa (51-8, 30 KOs) at The Forum, in Inglewood, California on HBO World Championship Boxing via a 2nd round TKO. Sosa was down 3 times in round 2. Sosa made no effort to try to get up after the third knockdown. González earned a career high $200,000 against Sosa.

González vs. Viloria

Gonzalez defeated 34 year old American Brian Viloria (36-4, 22 KO's) at Madison Square Garden in New York City via a 9th round TKO to retain his World titles on October 17 on the undercard of a middleweight unification bout between Golovkin vs. Lemieux. In round 9, Gonzalez landed a wide-open right hand that snapped Viloria's head to the side, after taking further a beating, referee Benjy Esteves Jr. stepped in and stopped the fight at 2 minutes, 52 seconds. According to CompuBox, Gonzalez landed 335 of 805 punches (42 percent), and Viloria was limited to landing only 186 of 594 (31 percent). Gonzalez was ahead on all 3 judges scorecards (78-73 twice, 79-72) before the knockdown and also knocked Viloria down in the 3rd round. With the win, González moved to 14-0 in world title bouts. González earned a $250,000 purse.

González vs. Arroyo

Gonzalez defeated 30 year old Puerto Rican McWilliams Arroyo (16-2, 14 KOs) on April 23, 2016 at The Forum, Inglewood, California on a co-feature of World Middlewight title bout between Gennady Golovkin and Dominic Wade. Gonzalez won via unanimous decision ending his ten-fight stoppage streak. Judges scored the bout (120-108) and (119-109) twice. Gonzalez landed 360 of 1,132 (32%) total punches while Arroyo landed 193 of 711 (27%) of his total punches. González earned a-then career high $300,000 purse for this fight.

González vs. Cuadras

K2 Promotions announced on July 14, González will move up to 115 pounds to challenge Carlos Cuadras (35-0-1, 27 KOs) for his WBC Super Flyweight title on September 10, 2016 at The Forum in Inglewood in a bid to become Nicaragua's first ever 4-weight world champion. The fight was part of a HBO split-site telecast on which K2 stablemate and unified middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin defeated welterweight titlist Kell Brook at the O2 Arena in London. That night, HBO had live coverage of Cuadras-González along with a replay of Golovkin-Brook.

In what was considered a close fight by many, González defeated Cuadras via 12 round unanimous decision to become the WBC super flyweight champion. This was the first time González headlined a card and drew a crowd of 6,714, which was considered a hit. The three judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113, all in favour of González. Combined, both fighters threw over 1,000 punches, with González getting the better of Cuadras. González was guaranteed a $400,000 purse for the fight, his highest ever. After the win, González made history by becoming the first fighter in the history of Nicaragua to capture four titles in four weight divisions, something his mentor Alexis Arguello failed to do twice during his career.

González vacated his WBC Flyweight meaning he would be keeping the WBC super flyweight title and continue fighting in the 115 division.

Death of Arnulfo Obando

On November 8, 2016 Gonzalez's long time trainer Arnulfo Obando was hospitalized after suffering a stroke earlier in the week and it was said that he was in serious condition. Upon arriving at the hospital, he was declared brain dead and his family was called to his bedside. On November 11, the WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed in a statement that Obando had died at the age of 53. It was also said that Gonzalez would take a break from boxing. On January 24, 2017 Gonzalez started his training camp and announced that his father, Luis Gonzalez would be his head trainer.

González vs. Sor Rungvisai

In December 2016, at the 54th WBC Convention, president Mauricio Sulaiman announced that a rematch would take place between González and Cuadras for the WBC title in March 2017. The winner of the rematch will need to fight WBC #2 mandatory and WBC silver champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (41-4-1, 38 KOs), who also goes by the name of Wisaksil Wangek. Gonzalez stated he hasn't agreed to a rematch or signed any contracts for a rematch to take place as he is not obligated to do so. Gonzalez also spoke about the purse offered to him for a rematch, "The HBO people are offering me very low money, so I can not accept that fight. I've been struggling to get a good purse, because we are the world's number one pound for pound." It was reported that Gonzalez was looking for a purse of around $1 million.

On January 5, Gonzalez's manager Carlos Blandon said that an opponent would be announced in ten days. A day later, due to Gonzalez not being obliged to give Cuadras a rematch, Sulaimán said in conference, Rungvisai will get a chance to fight Gonzalez next. The fight was officially announced on January 7 and serve as the co-feature for Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs at Madison Square Garden on March 18, 2017. Coming in to the fight Rungvisai had lost just once since 2010, which came to Cuadras in 2014 via technical decision.

On fight night, Gonzalez was knocked down in round 1 following a body shot and went on to lose his first professional fight as well as the WBC super flyweight title via majority decision. Waleska Roldan scored the fight 113-113 even, whilst Glenn Feldman and Julie Lederman scored it the same 114-112, 114-112 in favor of Rungvisai. ESPN scored the bout wide 117-109 in favor of Gonzalez. Many boos were heard around the arena filled with 19,939. In round 3, Gonzalez suffered a cut over his right eye, via an accidental clash of heads. The cut was maintained by his corner throughout the fight, but still flowed on the side of his face. Rungvisai lost a point in round 6 due to another clash of heads. After the decision was read out, Gonzalez made his way towards the locker room. He told a reporter through a translator that he thought he won the match, and wanted an immediate rematch,  "I thought I won the fight. I want an immediate rematch. I want to get my title back." Compubox stats showed Gonzalez landed 441 of his 1,013 thrown (44%), whilst Rungvisai landed 284 of 940 (30%). Gonzalez out landed Rungvisai in 10 rounds. He also set a super flyweight record for landing 372 power shots.

Personal life

González is managed by Carlos Blandon Vidaurre, and is promoted by Japan's Teiken Promotions.

González is divorced, has two children and lives in Managua, Nicaragua. He has stated that although he fights for honour and glory, the main reason is to provide for his family. He is a practicing Christian and a publicly open supporter of the FSLN political group in Nicaragua.