By Jake Donovan

It's been a long time coming for hardcore boxing fans to see cult favorite Roman Gonzalez on HBO. The unbeaten three-division titlist and reigning World flyweight king fights on his biggest stage yet, opening up a televised doubleheader on the American cable giant in a flyweight title defense versus veteran Edgar Sosa.

The bout serves as the chief support to Gennady Golokvin's middleweight title defense versus southpaw Willie Monroe Jr., both airing live from The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Gonzalez (42-0, 36KOs) has terrorized the lower weight classess since turning pro nearly 10 years ago. Going back and forth between Nicaragua and Japan, Gonzalez arrived in grand style on the title stage, lighting up Yutaka Niida for a strawweight belt in Sept. '08. 

The reign was a pit stop for bigger game, moving up for good in 2010 and capturing a belt in the 108 lb. division. A two-year reign followed, including his stateside debut in a 2nd round knockout of Omar Soto in Oct. '11. His last fight as a defending 108 lb. titlist was arguably his most competitive, surviving a 12-round war with Juan Estrada in their Nov. '12 shootout. 

It took two years to finally get another titlist in the ring, when then-lineal flyweight champion Akira Yaegashi agreed to a championship showdown last September. Gonzalez delivered, stopping the veteran in nine one-sided rounds. One title defense has followed, along with a stay-busy knockout win over Valentin Leon in a non-title fight this past February in Nicaragua.

Sosa (51-8-, 30KOs) has been around the block and then some through more than 15 years in the pro ranks. The 35-year old from Mexico overcame a rough career start to enjoy a lengthy stay as a junior flyweight titlist, beginning with an April '07 decision win over Brian Viloria in a major upset. 

Ten title defenses followed before sufferin a shocking 2nd round knockout loss to Rodel Mayol in Nov. '09. The past six years have been spent trying to win a title in his second weight class, coming up short in World title challenges versus Yaegashi and future Hall-of-Famer Pongsaklek Wonjongkam. Wins over Ulises Solis (who owns two previos wins over Sosa early in their respective careers) and Giovani Segura has kept him hovering around the Top 10.

Saturday night marks Sosa's third - and likely final - shot at flyweight glory. 

Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes tonight's flyweight action goes down.

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: ROMAN GONZALEZ vs. EDGAR SOSA

Ryan Burton (Gonzalez TKO 7): Sosa is a tough fighter but is definitely past his prime and Choco is simply a level above the best that Sosa ever was. Chocolatito will prove HBO right for finally showcasing him.  

Jake Donovan (Gonzalez UD): It would be quite the feather in Gonzalez' cap if he can stop the durable Sosa in his HBO debut. I don't give Sosa any chance whatsoever of pulling off the upset; my hunch is his game plan is to survive rather than to win, finding a way to see the finish line, though barely winning a round in the process.

Takahiro Onaga (Gonzalez TKO8): Great to know US fans get to see Gonzalez in action but he'll make this look like a show case. Sosa was once fantastic but now he old and slow, Gonzalez to run him over in second half 

Cliff Rold (Gonzalez KO): The coming out party (on English language TV) is here. Gonzalez will want to bring his best stuff but so will Sosa. Sosa is in the last chance coral and he's not been shown shot yet. He's going to fight hard. He's still going to get stopped inside eight rounds.

Victor Salazar (Gonzalez late KO): The long awaited HBO debut of someone who could be the best fighter in the world at the moment in Roman Gonzalez. I think Gonzalez will impress against a stiff challenge and stop his foe late, warranting an HBO investment for the future.

Reynaldo Sanchez (Gonzalez mid-rds KO): Finally we all see Gonzalez on HBO. Sosa thinks he will give us his best, but I don’t believe he can hurt Chocolatito. Roman must set the pace of the fight and push Edgar, take the lead fighting inside. We must see the Gonzalez-Estrada rematch. This fight is in my opinion, a tune up to be ready to face El Gallito, nothing can stop that rematch.

Alexey Sukachev (Gonzalez TKO8): Roman shouldn't disappoint in his major TV debut and he won't. Sosa won't hesitate to go toe-to-toe and to duke it out against arguably the biggest tonnage pounder in boxing. And he will pay a price.

Totals: 
Gonzalez - 7
Sosa - 0

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox