Today the WBC ordered a very sensible fight in a rematch between Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzales (46-1, 38 KOs) and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (43-4-1, 39 KOs) for their Super Flyweight Championship. They also then ordered Carlos Cuadras (36-1, 27 KOs) versus Juan Francisco Estrada (35-2, 28 KOs) for an interim belt in the same class because we love a really stupid sport.
The winner of the first fight, which was obviously supposed to be then near consensus number one pound for pound fighter Chocolatito, was to face Cuadras in their next defense prior to this announcement. I suppose then that the Interim Super Flyweight title fight is a way to appease the Cuadras camp since they are losing that. Whatever the reason for its existence, it is a completely illegitimate belt and it should be ignored completely. The rematch is a must, however, given the reactions of controversy towards the decision that handed Chocolatito his first loss.
Plus, lost in the controversy of the judges decision is the fact that it was a really great fight. Maybe the Thai contender shouldn’t have won, but he fought really well and definitely won a good chunk of rounds.
This set of four fighters have fought each other a bunch already. Other than Rungvisai’s controversial decision win over Gonzales, Gonzales himself has wins over both Cuadras and Estrada. Cuadras has a win over Rungvisai. Too bad we can’t work some of Japan’s Naoya Inoue in here too. Either way, Super Flyweight is a really great division now and I look forward to both of these fights, imaginary belt or not.
