Birmingham’s world champion Kal Yafai will defend his WBA world super-flyweight title against Nicaragua's Roman Gonzalez on Saturday, 29 February in Frisco, Texas. Yafai (30) has a perfect record of 26 wins with no defeats and is Britain’s longest reigning world champ. Gonzalez, (32) has held world titles at four different weights, including the WBC version of the super-flyweight championship. Yafia said told the world press "It doesn't get bigger than this and it'll bring out my best, .Chocolatito (Gonzalez nick name) is someone I have idolised as I worked my way up to become world champion myself, so I can't wait." Yafai continued by saying "It's a case of when idols become rivals and I am so honoured to share the ring with him but also show the world that I am an elite world champion."
Gonzalez has been a professional boxer for 15 years and has won 48 fights out of his 50 bouts of boxing, he told the press "I know this will be a very hard fight, but it will be worthy of all our efforts and determination, God has responded to my prayers once again."
The fight is being held at the Ford centre and will be on the undercard of the non-title Welterweight fight between Mikey Garcia and Jessie Vargas, while Welsh challenger Jay Harris fights WBC world flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn said "This is a brilliant fight on an absolute monster of a show, Kal Yafai has been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time and now he gets it against a legend of the sport in Chocolatito. This card in Texas is going to be epic."
Dexter's Thoughts
Great to hear that Kal Yafai is defending his title again, it is a shame it’s over in America as I’m sure there are lots of fight fans in Britain who would like to see Yafai defend his long reign as WBA super Featherweight champion over here especially in his home town of Birmingham. Yafai has made no secret that he wants to unify the division so after this defence I’m sure he will go hunting for the rest of the titles and finger crossed Matchroom can make this happen. I’m sure Yafai will make a successful defence with his great set of trainers and his two boxing brothers behind him. The Column will be reporting on the fight and wish Kal good luck in his defence.
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