EVEN NOW, the fluid footwork of Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, making it seem as if he is gliding across a block of ice, is truly a sight to behold.
In that same breath, however, it must also be said that the multi-weight world champion, at 38, remains a far cry from the masterful technician that will be studied and revered in years to come.
Earlier this morning, he did not quite roll back the years but, instead, produced a display that carried just enough nostalgia and brilliance to make for an absorbing super-flyweight contest against Hector Robles.
Robles, 13-9-3 (4 KOs) – a lively but limited customer – got off to a strong start, landing an eye-catching flurry towards the end of the opener, while Gonzalez attempted to disrupt his frenetic pace.
The Nicaraguan’s right hand, thrown from a plethora of angles, then inspired a degree of stability as he seamlessly pivoted around his less dynamic target.
By the midway point, that side-to-side movement – so synonymous with the ‘Chocolatito’ of old – was not quite what it once was, but still made for compelling viewing.
Too often, it seemed, Gonzalez, 53-4 (42 KOs) would march onto a series of shots, just to land a few of his own, yet his remarkable comfort in the pocket nonetheless saw Rubles think twice before returning an attack.
Still, the Mexican jolted his opponent’s head back every so often but, as their encounter in Managua, Nicaragua, neared its conclusion, it was Gonzalez’s more crafty footwork that proved decisive.
Scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92 all swung in favour of the living legend, and rightfully so, though his performance – as comprehensive as it was – offered less of an indication that he is back to his best, and perhaps more a suggestion that Father Time is inching closer.
