Israel Gonzalez believes he has the boxing IQ to beat WBA World Super-Flyweight champion Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez as they clash for the belt live on DAZN tonight from TV Azteca Studios in Mexico City, Mexico.

Gonzalez (25-3 11 KOs) is hoping it’s third time lucky in World title fights having fallen short against Jerwin Ancajas in February 2018 for the IBF strap and then Kal Yafai nine months later for the WBA belt.

Chocolatito ripped the title from Yafai in Dallas in February with a ninth round KO underscoring a dominant performance by the former pound for pound king. The carrot of a rematch with Juan Francisco Estrada dangles over the evening with both champions putting their belts on the line, as WBC king ‘El Gallo’ meets Carlos Cuadras in another rematch.

But 23 year old Gonzalez is confident he will rip up those plans and is relishing the chance to go up against the vastly experienced Nicaraguan, believing he can outwit the 33 year old and land the World title.

“I’m excited, I’m ready and I think it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, the fight of my life,” said Gonzalez. “I’m going up against one of the best pound for point fighters in the world at the smaller weights. It’s an opportunity that I can’t waste and I’m ready for this fight, I’m sure that it’s going to be my night.

“I think my intelligence will be the key in the fight, my intelligence in the ring. Knowing how to use my timing and use the distance and to fight an intelligent fight against Roman, who is also very intelligent. I think that will be the main factor, not to pressure myself, not to get hit with too many punches – hit and not get hit.

“I’ve watched his fight with Yafai a few times. I get a lot out of watching it; I don’t think Yafai looked great, I didn’t see him very concentrated in the fight and I think that made things easier for Roman. My style is completely different from Yafai, so this will be a very different fight.

“I’ve been through similar things before, different fighters like Yafai before facing them, they were already looking ahead to other fights, and it hasn’t gone well for them. In don’t think this will be an exception. Tonight, we will show them they’re doing things wrong and should be looking at what’s in front of them.”

“I don’t like to make predictions but I just can’t wait for the fight. I want to show all the work I’ve put into training. I guarantee it will be a good fight, I don’t doubt that it will be my night and I have no doubt I will become World champion.”

Gonzalez’s clash with Chocolatito is part of a huge fight night in Mexico City, topped by a triple header of mouthwatering World title action.

Juan Francisco Estrada (40-3 27 KOs) defends his WBC World Super-Flyweight title in a rematch with Carlos Cuadras (39-3-1 27 KOs) – with Estrada and Chocolatito on a collision course for a rematch should they both emerge victorious – and Julio Cesar Martinez (16-1 12 KOs) will now defend his WBC World Flyweight title against Moises Calleros (33-9-1 17 KOs).

Three of Eddie Hearn’s young tyros make their return to action on the bill, with Diego Pacheco (9-0 7 KOs) boxing for the tenth time in the paid ranks, Austin Williams (5-0 4 KOs) making a second foray outside the States in his sixth pro fight and Otha Jones III (5-0 2 KOs) also boxing for the sixth time as a pro.