Tough for Nietes, says Barrera brod, but ‘good fight’ for him.
LOS ANGELES, California – A battle royale among flyweight’s elite fighters can still happen as two of its former kingpins may soon find themselves going back to the 112lb class.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer believes former Mexican superstar Juan Francisco Estrada, who recently vacated his WBO and WBA fly weight thrones, may opt to return to the division if things do not fall into place regarding his recent move up in weight.
“Estrada’s promoters told me if they can’t get the big fights at 115 he might go back to 112,” said Aldeguer.
Another superstar and current pound-for-pound king Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez of Nicaragua may seriously consider a return to his old haunt after his superflyweight debut turned out to be a successful but harsh outing.
Gonzalez (46-0, 38 knockouts) ended up with abrasions on his face, a rarity for this usually adroit 29-year-old four-division champion, when he outpointed Mexican Carlos Cuadras to snatch the WBC superflyweight title recently in Inglewood, California.
“He had a tough time at 115 he should return to flyweight where he will be comfortable,” said Mexican trainer Jorge Barrera.
Barrera, older brother of Mexican icon Marco Antonio, recently worked in the corner of compatriot Edgar Sosa who got mauled in his 12-round bout opposite Filipino two-division champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes the other day at the StubHub Center in Carson.
The win not only made Nietes cement his top contender status of the WBO’s flyweight class but also gave him a level of equality in terms of the Estrada and Chocolatito-type of conversations.
“It will be tough for Nietes against Chocolatito or Estrada but those will be good fights for Nietes,” added Barrera.
China’s two-time Olympic gold winner Zou Shiming, the second-ranked WBO contender will battle third-ranked Kwanpichit Onesongchai of Thailand this November in Las Vegas in what could end up as an eliminator to fight Nietes for the vacant WBO flyweight crown.
Other champions who are considered top notch flyweight campaigners are WBA ruler Kazuto Ioka of Japan and IBF titleholder Johnriel Casimero of the Philippines. (DENNIS PRINCIPE)