Chocolatito vs Martinez Fight Week - Photos by Melina Pizano/Matchroom - 03/05/22

What a main event between Chocolatito and Martinez. Chocolatito will no doubt be known as one of the greats. I’m grateful to have been there to document a small part of it. My biggest take away from this week are the stories each individual holds. This week I met Jessica “Kika” Juarez, who came into her fight 3-0. Of more significance is the fact this was going to be her second fight after having a baby boy 12 months ago! She may have lost her bout this weekend, but what an inspiration to have that kind of a postpartum comeback. I also met Mauricio “Bronco” Lara. What sometimes isn’t seen by sports fans is what happens before the win or loss. Who these athletes fight for. In Lara’s case it’s his one year-old daughter. Without asking, he showed me a photo of his daughter and says he just wants to provide for her. Before his fight his family sent him a video of his daughter. He cried watching it as his hands were being wrapped before his bout. After that reaction I didn’t know what to expect from his fight. Apparently the video was all the motivation he needed because he stopped his opponent in the third round.

Photos taken on Saturday, March 5, 2022

at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.

Roman Gonzalez in his dressing room after his win over

Julio Cesar Martinez to win the WBC Diamond super flyweight title.

Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Luis Alberto Gonzalez with his son, Roman Gonzalez, as Roman calls his family after his bout with Julio Cesar Martinez on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Luis Alberto Gonzalez with his son, Roman Gonzalez, as Roman calls his family after his bout with Julio Cesar Martinez on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez versus Julio Cesar "El Rey" Martinez. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez during their bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez during their bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez shouts during the 

Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez versus Julio Cesar "El Rey" Martinez bout.
Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Saul ÒCaneloÓ Alvarez reacts to the Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez during their bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, reacts during the 

Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez versus Julio Cesar "El Rey" Martinez bout.
Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Saul ÒCaneloÓ Alvarez, Eddie Hearn, and Devin Haney watch the Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez during their bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez during their bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Roman Gonzalez prepares for his bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Julio Cesar Martinez prepares for his bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Roman Gonzalez arrives for his bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Jessica "Kika" Juarez prepares for her bout versus Skye Nicolson.  Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Jessica Juarez prepares for their bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Skye Nicolson prepares for her bout versus Jessica "Kika" Juarez. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Skye Nicolson prepares for their bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Emilio Sanchez prepares for his bout versus Mauricio Lara.  Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Emilio Sanchez prepares for his bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Mauricio "Bronco" Lara has an emotional reaction after watching a video of his daughter

while he gets his hands wrapped before his bout versus Emilio Sanchez. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Mauricio Lara has an emotional reaction after viewing a video of his daughter ahead of his bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Mauricio "Bronco" Lara shows off a photo of his daughter. Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Fight NightMarch 5, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Mauricio Lara shows a photo of his daughter ahead of his bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Photos taken on Friday, March 4, 2022

at the DoubleTree by Hilton - Mission Valley in San Diego, California.

Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez pose after their weigh-in ahead of their bout on the

Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. 

Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Weigh-InMarch 4, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez pose after their weigh-in ahead of their bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Photo taken on Wednesday, March 2, 2022

at the DoubleTree by Hilton - Mission Valley in San Diego, California.

Marc Castro on media day ahead of his bout on the Matchroom Boxing card

on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. 

Boxing: Gonzalez and Martinez Media Day BTSMarch 3, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Media day behind-the-scenes of Marc Castro ahead of his bout on the Matchroom Boxing card on March 5, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.