Chocolatito Next Fight: Donnie Nietes Declined Showdown, Says Roman Gonzalez
Filipino boxing champion Donnie Nietes is eyeing a fight against World Boxing Council flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez, but the Nicaraguan superstar is unsure of the showdown.
Gonzalez, who holds a perfect 44-0-0 record with 38 knockout victories, said that he is not sure if Nietes, the reigning World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion, really wants to face him.
Gonzalez said that when he was still fighting as a junior flyweight, his camp talked to Nietes and his promoters before about a possible showdown, but the Filipino showed no interest in facing him.
"Donnie Nietes supposedly wants to fight me and unify titles, but when we were at 105-pounds and 108-pounds -- I met him in Mexico to talk about a possible fight and he didn't want to," Gonzalez told BoxingScene. "I honestly do not think he wants to fight me."
But according to trainer Edito Villamor, Nietes, who is coming off a unanimous decision win against Juan Alejo, is really eyeing a showdown with Gonzalez. However, his camp is also considering a title fight against World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada.
"Estrada and Gonzalez are the same, they are both great champions and either would be a great match-up for Donnie," Villamor told Sun Star Cebu. "We can't say that we have a huge chance of beating either but I believe it should be very exciting fights which boxing fans are looking for."
Estrada, who has a 33-2 record with 24 of his victories coming by knockout, is also being linked to a rematch with Gonzalez in February. Gonzalez, who scored a unanimous decision win in their showdown in November 2012, confirmed that they are open to a rematch, but it depends on how much he will get from the bout.
"I would like to sincerely fight Estrada and want to get paid what we deserve," said Gonzalez, who defeated Brian Viloria in his latest title defense. "I would want $1.5 or 1 million. If not, there won't be anything. Estrada is the one who is pushing to fight me. I already beat Estrada."
And if they fail to get a deal to face the top fighters in the division, Gonzalez also revealed that they could move up to the 115-pound division, where he is eyeing a fight against Argentine Juan Carlos Reveco.
A showdown with Japanese champion Naoya Inoue was mentioned, but the WBO super flyweight champion could also move up to a higher weight division after his title defense against Warlito Parrenas on Dec. 29 in Tokyo, Japan.
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