All that Roman Gonzalez needed was the chance to prove there still existed at least one last great performance.

That opportunity came in the form of a bid at a second title reign at junior bantamweight, which became a reality following his one-sided 9th round stoppage of Kal Yafai in a throwback performance. The title-snatching effort—which took place February 29 in Frisco, Texas—marked the second fight into his ring return, having been out for more than 15 months prior to a comeback fight last December.

The win over Yafai marked his first title fight in more than two years, though his performance drew comparisons to the tale end of his optimal prime, when he was viewed as the best boxer on the planet.  

“I needed the break,” Gonzalez (49-2, 41KOs) told BoxingScene.com. “I had the chance to rest up a bit and focus on my family. I feel the hunger again.”

The last time Gonzalez left the ring with a title around his waist was a September 2016 decision win over then-unbeaten Carlos Cuadras to claim his first 115-pound title. The feat made him Nicaragua’s first-ever four-division champion, surpassing that of his late and legendary childhood idol Alexis Arguello. By that point in his career, most experts already had Gonzalez—still unbeaten at the time—as the best fighter in the world, pound for pound. 

Those visions came to a crashing halt following back-to-back losses to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the latter of the two an emphatic 4th round knockout loss which resulted in a year-long ring break, A one-and-done comeback fight was followed by another 15-month hiatus before resurfacing last December.

His win over Yafai, however, has unearthed feelings that he could one day find his way back to the top of the pound-for-pound heap. The right competition exists in his division, especially if he is able to secure a rematch with lineal 115-pound champion Juan Francisco Estrada whom he defeated in the final defense of his 108-pound title more than seven years ago.

“It’s an honor for all those fans and journalists to hold me in that regard,” notes Gonzalez, ever the humble warrior. “I value all their opinions, and their regard for my skills is a testament to the hard work and effort that I’ve put in throughout my career.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox