As Chocolatito Returns Home To Nicaragua, Donaire Wants Him In Saudi Arabia Next

Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (51-4, 41 KOs) is set to end his 19-month layoff with a highly anticipated bout against Rober Barrera this Friday. This fight marks his return to the ring and to his homeland, taking place at the sold-out Alexis Arguello Arena in Managua, Nicaragua. It will be Chocolatito’s first home bout in nearly a decade, making the event a significant homecoming for the Nicaraguan boxing legend.

Chocolatito, regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of his generation, has had an illustrious career spanning multiple weight divisions. Known for his relentless pressure and technical prowess, Gonzalez has claimed world titles in four weight classes: minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight, and super flyweight. Some of his most notable victories include wins over Juan Francisco Estrada, Akira Yaegashi, and Carlos Cuadras. Despite recent setbacks, including losses to Estrada and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Chocolatito remains a revered figure in boxing.

One very interested observer of Chocolatito’s return will be Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, a former four-division world champion. Brunch Boxing has confirmed that while not a done deal, a dream bout between the two future Hall of Famers is in the works for the October 12 Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia, which will be headlined by the undisputed light heavyweight title bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Donaire (42-7, 28 KOs) has had an equally storied career, earning world titles in flyweight, bantamweight, super bantamweight, and featherweight divisions. Known for his devastating left hook and remarkable longevity, Donaire has delivered memorable performances against opponents like Vic Darchinyan, Fernando Montiel, and Jorge Arce. In recent years, Donaire has experienced a career resurgence, including a Fight of the Year contender against Naoya Inoue in 2019, where he pushed the Japanese phenom to the limit despite losing on points.

While Donaire played coy about the potential matchup in a recent interview with Christine, Nayka, and Crystal on Women Crushing It Wednesdays on YouTube, he has expressed significant interest in facing Gonzalez. In a discussion with Brunch Boxing on Monday, Donaire, along with his manager, trainer, and wife, Rachel, confirmed that the Gonzalez fight is the bout they want next.

A clash between Chocolatito and Donaire would be a huge addition to the October 12 Riyadh Season card, pitting two of the sport’s most accomplished and beloved fighters against each other.

As Chocolatito prepares to delight his home fans in Managua, the prospect of a showdown with Donaire in Saudi Arabia looms large, promising a historic encounter that could further cement both fighters’ legacies.