Estrada vs Gonzalez 3: Start Time, Date, TV Channels

By Boxing News - 12/02/2022 - Comments

Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez meet in an epic trilogy fight on Saturday night (December 3) at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, live on DAZN – and the Super-Flyweight legends opened up on their remarkable journeys to the pinnacle of the sport.

The rivalry between Estrada and Chocolatito spans a decade with the pair first meeting in Los Angeles in November 2012 and then rematching in Dallas in March 2021 – with Chocolatito winning the first and Estrada leveling in Texas.

YouTube video

Ahead of their trilogy battle, Matchroom sat down with both fighters in camp, and while they both had plenty to say on the fight and their futures, they took time to reflect on their incredible paths from poverty to greatness.

Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez:

“I was born in Managua, in the Esperanza neighbourhood. I was born in a poor family and God has blessed me, enabling me to provide a life for my family and my children and I feel immensely proud to have come from a poor family and to now be able to show lots of youngsters that if I can do it, so can they. It makes me proud. Really proud to have been born in the Esperanza neighbourhood and to have come from the San Judas gym where I spent almost all my time training and still do today.

“All of my fans, my people know me there and I feel proud to know that I come from a poor family. So, this makes me immensely proud to know that bit by bit, I’ve made a life for my family and flown the flag for my country.”

Juan Francisco Estrada:

“I’m from Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. I started out in boxing at nine years of age. Prior to that, when I was seven, my mother died. When I went into boxing I followed my path, training, having fights locally and then municipal, interstate contests. At 14 my father passed away and I carried on boxing, my aunt and uncle looked after me and my siblings.

YouTube video

“I thought, now I’ve lost my parents I have my siblings and family still with me and I must achieve something. Sport was something my aunt and uncle always instilled in me, and my brother and I played every sport but I liked boxing. My brother, who’s a year older, said, “Come on, let’s do some boxing training.” And two or three months after he’d joined, I said, “Let’s do it!” And I stayed there. After a while my brother stopped going. He wasn’t a fan of the diet and I stayed in boxing. At 14 I went to a state event in Hermosillo, I was spotted by the national boxing team trainers, (Jose) Alfredo Caballero was trainer there, too. And they said, “Come to Hermosillo and join the Sonora boxing team.

“From 14, through to 15 when I graduated from secondary school, I spoke to my aunt who was responsible for us back then and I told her I’d been asked to go to Codeson, which was the name of the high-performance facility in Hermosillo. And she told me if that was what I wanted, she would support me and she did. I went and stayed there, and I’ve stayed in Hermosillo until the present day. And those were my beginnings. I went to three national championships, I won three gold medals, I went to a fourth and won silver.

Julio Cesar Martinez
“Like I always say, with everything but fear, in anyone, and anywhere. We came here to do what we know, to leave the ring with our hand raised, but also, we hope that both of us come out well and that we walk away with the victory.”

Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez
“I’m super motivated, I’m super happy because we had a good camp with my team. We’re very motivated, we know it’s going to be a great fight against Juan Francisco Estrada, and we hope that the fans of the boxing world can enjoy this fight.

“If you thought the second fight was good, the third fight will be even better because we are prepared better than ever before. I’m in the best shape of my life, I’m very happy, and we’ve done a good job to show that I have a special talent and I’m going to enjoy this with my family and my people.”

Juan Francisco Estrada
“It’s been a lot of time. Unfortunately, the pandemic really stopped boxing, so I’m happy. I’m very well prepared. After my last fight, I only had two weeks of rest and then we continued camp at high altitude and I’m very motivated and confident about this fight.

“He [Chocolatito] and I are fighters who do our talking in the ring. Outside we’re respectful, but inside we disrespect each other. We’re colleagues outside of the ring and what we do, we do it in the ring and we’re going to show it in the ring. That’s why this is going to be the best fight out of all three of them, the best one will win, and I feel like the people are going to take a good show. And also, not just this fight, the undercard has great fights as well.”
Ammo Williams
“I’m very thankful for my opponent, Simon Madsen, because we got kind of close to the fight and we couldn’t lock anything down and for me to get somebody who will be a challenge, an undefeated fighter, that’s going to be great on my record. It’s amazing, it’s so amazing, and it shows a lot of heart from him, but I still must do what I must do on Saturday night. As Eddie said, I’m so close to winning the World title. 2023 is a huge year and he’s an obstacle in front of me, so y’all are going to see that same dangerous, explosive Ammo on Saturday night.

“It’s complete focus on Simon Madsen because this must be a statement to show Felix Cash what he’s really signing up for. Everybody thinks I’m young in the game, don’t have as much experience, but now, after this big 2022 and to finish it off with a great fight like this, I don’t see myself being anywhere behind Felix Cash and I’m going to make a statement that’s going to make him think twice about the fight, I promise that.”

Simon Madsen
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity. It’s a huge step up for me and I took this fight on a short notice but I’m happy I got this opportunity because I feel like I’m ready. I’m ready to put on a great fight and make a surprise and thank you for giving me the opportunity.”

Marc Castro
“We’re just trying to inspire kids and show them they can make it from wherever they are from. This Saturday I go against a tough opponent, but I put in the work every day in the gym, so this is just another stepping-stone for my career and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here.

“It’s special being a part of the trilogy, of the undercard of Estrada and Chocolatito. They’re both legends in their own making and it’s just surreal. Especially if they’re fighting a third time, I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Carisse Brown
“Unfortunately, my opponent hurt her wrist for the Australian fight, but it is a huge, huge honor and blessing to be able to get called short notice for this fight. Shoutout to Jesus Escalera of T&K Boxing Promotions, my promoter, as well as Eddie Hearn for allowing me to be able fight on this card and take a big step up for females out there, even the young girls, for them to see what they can accomplish in this sport.

“One thing about me is my life has been nothing but a fight, but every day is a fight, so I’m prepared, I’m ready, and there’s nothing that I’m not willing to take the challenge on. I’m ready.”

Beatriz Ferreira
“My first fight was incredible; it was very new for me. I liked it a lot, I’m very excited for the second. I believe I gave a great show the first fight, it was a great spectacle for the public, and this time will be the same.

“I’m moving forward with force and speed. All the fights are going to be that way.”

Ricardo Adrian Luna
“I feel strong, I feel motivated. I’m anxious. I also want to thank Pacheco. The day after tomorrow we’re going to deliver an excellent fight and I’m going to get the bigger victory, which I deserve after so many opportunities.”

Diego Pacheco
“I’m very happy to be here. I’m excited to be a part of this big event with these legends who are sitting right behind me. The work has been put in. I want to thank my coach, Benavidez, the entire team in Seattle. We put in all the work and we’re ready to shine this Saturday. You guys, tune in, it’s going to be an amazing show.

“This year was a great run for me. I have three knockouts and I’m looking for the fourth one come Saturday night. I’m looking to end the year on a great knockout, a great win, and get ready for next year to take on the big fights, big challenges, and really take over the sport.”

Christopher Rosales
“I’m anxious, we want to move forward in our career. We know what it’s like to be at the top, to be a champion, and so what we want to do is recover what is ours and go back to where we belong. We are coming in well prepared in the best conditions to deliver the best fight possible this Saturday and position us toward a World title opportunity, whether it’s against El Gallo, or Roman; anyone.”

Joselito Velasquez
“This is a big fight. It’s a big opportunity, and it’s going to position me to be a contender, so I’m prepared very well. It’s going to be a big fight that I’m going to demonstrate this Saturday.”

Eddy Reynoso
On Velasquez: “He is a good fighter. He has a lot of experience in the amateurs. He struggled a bit in the professionals because he hasn’t been given good opportunities, but he’s been pushing forward and working hard to walk away with his hand raised this Saturday.

On Julio Cesar Martinez: “It’s been a tough year after that loss against Chocolatito, but he’s made some adjustments. He’s more disciplined than ever before and he’s coming well prepared. There was about three or four months where fights were falling through, but he learned from that loss against Chocolatito. It served him well and you’re going to see a better Julio Cesar Martinez.”

Samuel Carmona
“With regard to the title opportunity, I’m very grateful. It’s going to be a good fight. And I don’t just have eight fights like people may think. I have more than 200 amateur fights. I also had 20 fights in the world series, so I’m an expert in this and I’m going to show it on Saturday.”

Eddie Hearn:
“As both these legends said, they predict the best of all three on Saturday night. To be honest with you, I would have taken fifty percent of one or two. If we get the best fight of the trilogy here on Saturday, we will get one of the greatest fights in the history of this sport. I think I speak for everybody when I say thank you to Juan Estrada, thank you to Roman Gonzalez, for continuously giving us great fights and stepping up to fight the best in boxing.

“We close out [2022] in front of around ten thousand people in this tremendous arena here in Phoenix for in my opinion, one of the cards of the year and one of the fights of the year. The Trilogy: Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez against Juan Estrada”

 ESTRADA VS. CHOCOLATITO 3 DATE, START TIME

    • Date: Saturday, December 3
    • Main card: 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. GMT
    • The card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe
    • The fight will be staged at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
    • Main event ringwalks (approx): 10 p.m. ET  /  3 a.m. GMT (Sunday)
    • The main card is set to get underway at 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. GMT with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 10 p.m. ET  /  3 a.m. GMT (Sunday).

“When I wanted to join the Mexican national team, there were Mexican fighters that were preferred over me, and I was never called up for a fight. Back then I said to Alfredo, “Let’s go pro now,” my dream was to go to the Olympic Games and that never worked out. And Alfredo decided I should make my debut as a professional at 18 years of age.

“I don’t have any memories of being with my mum or dad. My mother died of Leukemia. My aunt and uncle knew she was ill. My siblings and I would go on holidays to Mexicali with aunts and uncles, my grandparents and that’s how we did things.

“My aunt that was from Mexicali knew a gentleman who I got so close to that I would call him “Daddy.” And he was from Los Mochis, Sinaloa. Over time, I remember being four years old and back then we were in Peñasco and the gentleman spoke to my mother and asked if he could take us with him to Los Mochis on holiday and that was what I wanted. I wanted to go with him because he treated my siblings and I well. And my mother and my aunt all knew that my mother was unwell, and they let me go. So, we went to Los Mochis and from four to seven years of age I was with him.

“He took me to kindergarten, to primary school and I was with him for that entire period. Then when I was seven my mother passed away and my aunt, who would care for us, spoke to my [adopted] father, explaining that she’d passed away. And back then the gentleman was suffering financially, and he couldn’t take me back to Peñasco for the funeral.

“My aunt, when we were in Mochis, she did what she could as we came from a simple family, we had no money for the bus, but she raised some to get us there but not for the return journey, she was struggling to raise funds for that. I remember we came on the train back then. And we went to Puerto Peñasco and that’s where I lived from seven to 14 years of age then at 15, I moved to Hermosillo. I lived there with my siblings, I got into boxing, and I did sports with them.

“Well, when I was in Puerto Peñales at seven years of age, sometimes along with my siblings and my aunt, we’d really have to hustle to eat. I used to go with my aunt to gather plastic containers, we’d help down at the port on ships that came in.

“They’d give us shrimps, fish and we’d sell it, my aunt also made tortillas which we’d sell too. We weren’t there for a long time, then my aunt met a gentleman, and I also grew close to him, and he was like a father to me. He worked in construction and sometimes me and my brother would go and work with him. His brother was a gardener and sometimes we’d go and work with him. We’d struggle through together. In fact, the house my brother now lives in was built by me, my [adopted] father, his brother, my brother, and my aunt too.

“We all did our bit; mixing, laying bricks and we were there for a while. It was a tough upbringing, but I can say it was a happy one.

“When I started boxing at nine years old, at that age a child doesn’t look beyond that. In fact, when I went into the gym, I think I was the only kid who was disciplined because all the kids were only interested in kicking a football around and would go.

“They came to play and have a chat, but I was there to train. My trainer saw that I was serious and gave it everything. So, when I was about 12 or 13, he took me to a professional boxing event. It was the first one I’d been to. It was in San Luís Rio Colorado. I remember watching the main event, the fighter came out in a beautiful outfit and the first thing I asked my trainer was how much a fighter like that earned.

“I remember he told me 25 thousand pesos. And I thought that was a huge amount of money. And even though I was a kid I started to see more fights and I said that one day we’ll be fighting on those cards, earning that type of money.

“When I moved at 15, that’s when I thought, “This is going to be my career.” I finished secondary school, I started upper secondary but as I was moving around to fight a lot in different towns in Mexico, I’d miss lots of classes, so I decided to fully commit to boxing.

“I left upper secondary, signed up to an English course, dropped out of it, and to be honest I was more focused on boxing than studying because I set myself the goal of becoming world champion one day. As I say, from 15 years of age, that was my goal. I said, one day I’m going to be world champion and that was the reason for going to Hermosillo.

“Back then at 15, when I went to Hermosillo, my family, my siblings and I would say, “Well, I have no parents. I have to give it everything to become someone in life.” And I’ve always prepared myself psychologically on my own. Now I’ve got four children. They motivate my every day, my wife who always supports me.

“I met her at secondary school, we’ve been together since we were 17 and thank God we’re still together today. And they are what motivates me. They came to visit me a week ago because I’d not see them for a month and I was happy because my kids are growing up and all of them are my motivation and when I go into the ring and even in training, I’m doing it for them. They are the ones that always motivate me.

“I feel like all the sacrifice, the effort and hard training sessions because boxing isn’t easy. I think it’s one of the most difficult sports out there and I’m happy and grateful to my trainer Alfredo Caballero who has been with me since I was 15. My wife and family have also supported me, and I think that allows me to keep moving forward. And it makes me very happy because I feel I’ve achieved a lot more than I expected to.”

YouTube video

ESTRADA VS. GONZALEZ FIGHT CARD

  • Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Roman Chocolatito Gonzalez; For the vacant WBC super flyweight title
  • Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Samuel Carmona; For Martinez’s WBC flyweight title
  • Joselito Velazquez vs. Cristofer Rosales, Flyweight
  • Diego Pacheco vs. Ricardo Adrian Luna; For Pacheco’s WBC USNBC super middleweight title
  • Marc Castro vs. Maickol Lopez Villagrana; Super featherweight
  • Beatriz Ferreira vs. Carisse Brown; Super featherweight
  • Anthony Herrera vs. Juan Sequeira; Super flyweight