Chocolatito: 'I'm Ready to Retire,' But Hasn't Made Decision
By Keith Idec
Maybe it’s the devastation talking.
Or maybe Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez realizes he has nothing left to give this unforgiving sport. Regardless, Gonzalez told La Prensa, a Nicaraguan newspaper, that he is “ready to retire” in a story posted to its website Sunday.
The 30-year-old Gonzalez’s plummet from the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound list continued Saturday night, when Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (44-4-1, 40 KOs) knocked out the former four-division champion in the fourth round of their rematch in Carson, California. Gonzalez looked lethargic and was losing the fight when the powerful southpaw from Thailand dropped him twice in the fourth round.
The second knockdown left Gonzalez flat on his back and unable to continue.
“We are close to retiring,” Gonzalez told La Prensa. “I already did what I had to do. I won four world titles and I did not spend much time with my family, my children. They are very small and they need me.”
Gonzalez acknowledged that his mind isn’t made up, but he is leaning toward ending a 10-year pro career that has included 48 fights (46-2, 38 KOs). He was unbeaten before Sor Rungvisai scored a debatable majority decision victory over him in their 12-round fight March 18 at Madison Square Garden.
Less than six months later, the former WBC super flyweight champion is talking retirement.
“In the end, God decides, not me,” Gonzalez said. “But I’m ready to retire from boxing. I’m going to sit with my children. They will make the decision. If one day something bad happens to me, they are the ones left alone.”
Fortunately, Gonzalez said he passed all medical examinations at a Los Angeles-area hospital following his devastating defeat.
If he decides to return to the ring, he won’t consider a move back down to 112 pounds. Gonzalez, who has fought as low as minimumweight (105 pounds), hasn’t been as effective or powerful in three fights since he moved up from 112 pounds to 115 pounds last year.
He cannot make 112 pounds anymore, though, thus that weigh isn’t an option moving forward.
“I did not want to fail,” Gonzalez said. “That’s the way boxing is. … I feel like I was bad for my people [of] Nicaragua, the people who came to see me fight.”
