Juan Francisco Estrada: I am stronger, have more desire than in first Chocolatito fight

With Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez set for a March 13 rematch on DAZN, the long-awaited second meeting between the two champions is finally happening, over eight years after their first meeting.

Estrada (41-3, 28 KO) holds the WBC junior bantamweight title, while Gonzalez (50-2, 41 KO) has the WBA belt, making for a unification between two fighters who are now veterans, but both still fighting very well.

Estrada, 30, is the younger man, and there was some thought that Gonzalez had hit the wall a couple of years ago after back-to-back losses to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. But “Chocolatito,” now 33, has come roaring back as a top fighter at 115 pounds.

Estrada has chased Gonzalez up the divisions looking for this fight, after the two originally fought at 108 pounds. The Mexican champ sees himself as the favorite this time, after losing a division in 2012.

“I am stronger and have more desire than the first fight,” said Estrada. “We are both champions and we are going to want to win this fight. In the first fight, I was 21 years old and I had no experience of big international fights, he was a pound-for-pound star at that time, but now I think this time it favors me.

“We are fighting two weight classes above the first fight, so it is already very different. I know that I can win this time. I know it’s a tough fight and I think it will be a better fight, but I have already faced him, I know his qualities and I feel that I can beat a fighter who has been knocked out.”

Estrada-Chocolatito 2 will take place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with the rematch between undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill and Cecilia Braekhus also on the card, as well as Hiroto Kyoguchi defending his WBA 108-pound title.