Román González starting to chunk up in between training camps.

I definitely agree with that. As a Gonzalez fan, the longer he waits to make that fight, the worse it looks for him. I want to see it regardless but I think super-fly before the end of 2017 makes enough sense for both guys.

I was actually becoming more concerned with Gonzalez' recent comments about how much he deserves to be paid. I understand he's looking for a lot of money for a guy in the lower weight classes. It hasn't got to the stage where he's pricing himself out of big fights but, in this day and age, that's always a worry.

 

I get that. He feels (quite rightly) that given his talent he should be afforded a certain amount of respect and status. He's been on his way to receiving that fighting with GGG - I just hope it doesn't affect a potential fight with Inoue or Estrada.

 

I don't know if that's an altogether easy win, though. Warren does move well, and might have an edge in hand-speed over Chocolatito. Speed and movement have been the attributes that have troubled Roman in the past, so while I'd favor the Nicaraguan to win, I wouldn't be completely shocked by an upset.

 

The difference between Donaire, Arguello, and Gonzalez in terms of weight climbing is that the first two had significant height and reach advantages before they moved up. Arguello basically had the frame of a middleweight, and they could dictate range and limit the damage they took. Gonzalez is already undersized in his fourth weight class and is going to have to fight increasingly on the inside and use quick movement to bridge the gap in arm length. He's going to be in range a lot longer and take more chances fighting larger guys.

I don't know that I like his chances any further up. I'm not sure he can even be the man at this fourth weight class, but maybe I'm selling him short. For most fighters, unless you are ridiculously young and skinny in your initial weight classes like say Hearns, you aren't going to have much success beyond four or five weight classes no matter who you are. Duran, Armstrong, and Walker were freaks. Morales, Barrera, and Marquez only went up four or five weight classes. I see Gonzalez as roughly on their level. Four weight classes is doable but it may be his ceiling.

 

Come on, I think the dude only got 400k for Cuadras. I don't think he's ever had a million dollar purse. Not for Viloria, Sosa, Yaegashi, Estrada, you name it. He's got 16 title fights, undefeated 46 fights in, fourth weight class. Can you just throw the dog a bone? These promoters wouldn't give a crippled crab a crutch!