Estrada vs. Gonzalez II betting odds, preview, and pick

A battle nine years in the making is coming, and it can’t get here soon enough.

Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez will fight for super flyweight supremacy Saturday, March 13, and we have the preview and pick you’ll need before fight night.

The long road for revenge

Estrada has been hell-bent on avenging his loss to Gonzalez nine years ago, and he has gone about it the right way. In his pursuit, Estrada has compiled enough big wins and achievements to force the issue, which gave Gonzalez no choice but to take the rematch.

Estrada has gone 5-0 over his last five fights and established his position as the division’s best fighter, with scintillating wins over Carlos Cuadras and former Gonzalez conqueror Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

Estrada has evolved into a strong super flyweight. His aggression and punch selection is second to none, but he is going to be pushed to his limit against a living legend.

Gonzalez is still elite

There isn’t much to be said about “Chocolatito” that we don’t already know. He’s undoubtedly the best fighter ever in the lower weight classes, and he hasn’t dropped too far from his pound-for-pound peak, despite a few losses along the way.

Gonzalez is the rare volume puncher who has excellent power. He often throws more than 100 punches per round, and Gonzalez can afford to put himself in harm’s way, as he can overwhelm his opponents with activity.

Expect Estrada to even the score

Though reports of Gonzalez’s demise were exaggerated, he is still an older fighter and too small for the weight class he is in. We’ve seen lapses in his formidable defense, and he has taken a lot of punishment, to the point where many felt he was due to retire.

Gonzalez’s decline gives Estrada the edge. It’s hard to ignore the punishment Gonzalez has taken over the course of his last few fights, and coupled with the possibility these two will hit each other often, he is the more likely to wilt under pressure.

This should be an absolute war between two all-time greats, but Gonzalez is going to wish he had taken this rematch earlier in his career. This time around, Estrada will get the revenge he has sought for so long in an absolute brawl and decision victory.

Boxing pick: Estrada