Championship Boxing in L.A.: Chocolatito vs Cuadras

Boxing in Los Angeles has been flying under the radar at best in recent years but this may be the punch that ends up cold-cocking the region's sports landscape even when it pretends it's paying attention. This is a must-see event that many may undoubtedly claim they were there.

The 2016 "fight of the year" in Southern California takes center stage at the Fabulous Forum in revitalized Inglewood this Saturday night, September 10. Barring a draw the loser will suffer his first professional career loss. The card will also feature five other contests.

With ever-growing anticipation it has been well worth the wait for the WBC World Super Flyweight Championship fight between the current champion, Carlos "Principe" Cuadras from Mexico and his undefeated challenger, Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez of Nicaragua.

Considered the consensus #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Gonzalez, champion of three different weight classes with a 45-0-0 record and 38 knockouts is moving up one class to challenge Cuadras, 35-0-1 with 27 knockouts, in the televised live 12-round title fight on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Chocolatito's credentials are impressive: he currently is the WBC Flyweight World Champion, former WBA World Junior Flyweight Champion and former WBA Strawweight Champion. The fight is being presented by K2 Promotions in association with Teiken Productions.

In what had to be the most civil, organized and sportsmanlike press conference, Chocolatito was confident and gracious: "Coming Saturday it's a very hard, difficult fight. It will be a great fight. I know that I have God watching over me and will give me the strength necessary to get a victory on Saturday."

"I want to thank everyone that has helped me prepare for this fight. Everyone on my team has been very helpful. They've done their job and now it's time to do mine," said the physically ripped and charismatic Cuadras, finishing up the final press conference.

The co-main feature is an intriguing rematch between Yoshihiro "El Maestrito" Kamegai from Japan, (26-3-2, 23 KO's) and Jesus "Renuente" Soto-Karass from Mexico, (28-10-4, 18 KO's). The two fought to a draw on April 15 in what's now considered the reigning "fight of the year" at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. The super welterweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Teiken Promotions is scheduled to go 10 rounds.

This will be Cuadras' second fight in the United States. He successfully defended his title for the second of his six challenges against Phillipine Marvin Mabait at the Washington Hilton in the District of Columbia on November 13, 2014. Cuadras' last fight was an 8th round TKO of Phillipine Richie Mepranum on April 23 of this year.

Cuadras has been training with Rudy Hernandez at his Maywood Gym in the City of Maywood just west of the Los Angles River and the Long Beach Freeway. Hernandez: "I don't think Carlos has ever fought in Los Angeles. He's adapted well to training here. It's like he's never left home."

"The good thing about him is that he's a comfortable kid. It doesn't really matter where you put him. I expect Carlos to be the best he's ever been. We've done our job. We've done what we're supposed to do. We worked on our strategy. Now it's up to Carlos on Saturday to perform."

"There's no secret into what we're going to do. Carlos is a boxer. He's going to move. He's going to fight. He's going to have to pick his shots to win and where. At the end of the day there is no secret as to how Carlos boxes, how Chocolatito fights. It's going to be who can perform best Saturday night."

The tale of the tape for Gonzalez vs. Cuadras: Age - 29/28; Height - 5'3"/5'4"; Weight - 115/115; Reach - 64"/66".

The balance of the card includes: lightweights - Ryan Martin vs. Fermin De Los Santos for 8 rounds, female junior flyweights - Seniesa Estrada vs. Nancy Franco for 8 rounds, lightweights - Carlos Licona vs. Gilberto Mendoza for 6 rounds and lightweights - Chazz Moleta vs. Brahmabigi Montgomery for 4 rounds.