Chocolatito Gonzalez vs. Julio Cesar Martinez: Fight prediction, undercard, odds, live stream, preview

A super flyweight showdown is on tap for San Diego on Saturday night when Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez returns

While boxing fans suffered something of a letdown when Juan Francisco Estrada withdrew from his planned trilogy fight with Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez, they have been treated to a fine consolation prize. WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez stepped up to make his super flyweight debut and setting up an almost sure-fire Fight of the Year candidate when the two clash Saturday at Pechanga Arena in San Diego (DAZN, 8:30 p.m.). Roman Gonzalez -135 Julio Cesar Martinez +115 Super flyweight Mauricio Lara -1100 Emilio Sanchez +700 Featherweight Angel Fierro -575 Juan Carlos Burgos +425 Lightweight Souleymane Cissokho -2000 Roberto Valenzuela Jr Super welterweight

Gonzalez (50-3, 41 KO) was once heralded by many as the pound-for-pound king before a pair of 2017 losses to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Rather than fade away more than 45 fights into his professional career, Gonzalez continued to battle, winning the WBA super flyweight championship two fights later with a February 2020 knockout of Khalid Yafai. After a successful defense against Israel Gonzalez, Chocolatito battled Estrada in March 2021, a rematch of a 2012 bout.

Unlike the first meeting, Estrada got the nod and left with both the WBA and WBC titles, though not without controversy. The general consensus was that Gonzalez deserved the victory but came up on the wrong side of a split decision. While Estrada's withdrawal from the fight, a result of a poor training camp due to lingering effects of COVID-19, has robbed Gonzalez of his chance to right the wrongs perpetrated by the ringside judges, he's in for no less of a challenge against Martinez.