Gonzalez set for July 12th comeback against Barrera on ESPN

Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez, a four-division champion, has confirmed his return to the ring since December 2022. He announced via a press conference that he will face Rober Barrera on July 12th in his hometown of Managua, Nicaragua. The upcoming bout is positioned as a precursor to a bantamweight title shot in Japan later in the year and will therefore be contested at a 117-pound catchweight.

Barrera, hailing from Colombia, holds a record of 27-5 with 17 knockouts. He is perceived as the type of opponent tailored for an undersized super flyweight in his mid-30s to shake off any ring rust. While Barrera has secured victories against lower-tier compatriots, he has fallen short against notable names such as Carlos Canizales, Ryoichi Taguchi, Luis Concepcion, and Muhammad Waseem. Despite pushing Canizales to a split decision in a 2015 bout (which bizarrely was scheduled for 11 rounds) and leading on the scorecards before being stopped by "Nica" in 2020, Barrera is not expected to pose a significant threat to Gonzalez (50-4, 41 KO).

Nevertheless, the return of "Chocolatito" to the ring is a welcome sight. The broadcast will be carried by ESPN KnockOut, with hopes that ESPN+ will offer coverage for viewers in the United States.