Chocolatito’s career on hold while tends to trainer

Photo by: Naoki Fukuda

Nov

Roman (Chocolatito) Gonzalez has put his career on hold, which includes talk of a possible rematch with Carlos Cuadras, as he tends to the condition of his trainer, Arnulfo Obando, who was pronounced brain-dead on Monday after suffering a stroke and undergoing surgery for a brain aneurysm, promoter Tom Loeffler told RingTV.com.

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Loeffler said in a phone interview. “It shows everyone that life is so precious. Chocolatito was on top of the boxing world and we got to know his team very well. He trained at Big Bear for his last fight here at The Forum and his team was up there every day at training camp with Gennady (Golovkin). Arnulfo was young at 54 and just seemed so vibrant, so full of life and then always so happy and smiling and welcoming whenever I’d go up to the camp.”

Loeffler has been in contact with Akihiko Honda, president of Teiken Promotions, who also handles Gonzalez, and with Carlos Blandon his manager. “It’s hard to talk about what his next career move is,” Loeffler said. “We’re just waiting to get more information and just offering our support our side.”

Before the calamity, discussions had begun on a possible rematch between Gonzalez (46-0, 38 knockouts) and Cuadras (35-1-1, 27 KOs). The two fought 12 spirited rounds on Sept. 10 at The Forum in Inglewood, California with Gonzalez winning a decision for a junior bantamweight title, his fourth championship in a fourth division.

“It’s such a great fight,” Loeffler said. “It’s really a testament to Chocolatito but also his team and clearly Arnulfo for him to win a title in a fourth division. A rematch was something that was being discussed but clearly it’s on hold right now.”

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