After nineteen months out of the ring, the fighting pride of Nicaragua is back for a long-awaited homecoming. Former four-division champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez will face Colombian puncher Rober Barrera in the ten-round bantamweight main event on Friday, July 12th at Polideportivo Alexis Argüello in Managua, Nicaragua. Gonzalez-Barrera and additional fight action will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Gonzalez (51-4, 41 KOs), the one-time pound-for-pound king, has captured titles at minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight, and junior bantamweight during a 19-year pro career. Considered one of the greatest lighter-weight fighters in boxing history, he returns following a highly controversial decision defeat to Juan Francisco Estrada in December 2022. Barrera (27-5, 17 KOs) is a former world title challenger who has won three straight fights.

 

In other fights scheduled for the ESPN+ stream:

 

Eveling Ortega (7-5, 2 KOs) vs. Karol Mazariegos Gonzalez (7-1-1, 3 KOs), 8 Rounds, Light Flyweights

 

Kevin Vivas (7-2, 2 KOs) vs. Azael Villar (20-3-4, 15 KOs), 8 Rounds, Light Flyweights

 

Michael Carmona (5-0, 3 KOs) vs. Edwin Cano Hernandez (12-2-1, 3 KOs), 8 Rounds, Minimumweights

 

Jeffrey Gonzalez (2-0) vs. Andres Quesada (2-0), 4 Rounds, Heavyweights