The "GGG and Chocolatito Show" is back for another episode.
For a third consecutive fight, pound-for-pound king Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez will defend his flyweight world title in the co-feature of a Gennady Golovkin middleweight title defense.
K2 Promotions made it official on Friday, announcing that it has finalized a fight between Gonzalez and McWilliams Arroyo. They will meet on April 23 (HBO, 10 p.m. ET/PT) at the Forum in Inglewood, California, in the co-feature of the card headlined by Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs), who will defend his unified titles against mandatory challenger Dominic Wade (18-0, 12 KOs). The Golovkin-Wade fight was announced earlier this week.
"Having Roman paired with Gennady was a winning combination in 2015, as both fought in front of huge crowds in Los Angeles and New York City," said Tom Loeffler, managing director of K2 Promotions. "Roman has a very fan-friendly style, and we're pleased that following his HBO debut in May at the Forum, he was recognized as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter by most of the major media platforms worldwide."
Gonzalez (44-0, 38 KOs), a former strawweight and junior flyweight titleholder, will be defending the flyweight crown for the fourth time. Last May, he wiped out former junior flyweight titleholder Edgar Sosa in the second round on the Golovkin-Willie Monroe Jr. undercard. On Oct. 17, he dominated former unified flyweight titleholder Brian Viloria in a ninth-round knockout on the Golovkin-David Lemieux undercard at sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York.
The pairing of Golovkin, regarded by many as the No. 2 fighter pound-for-pound, and Gonzalez has proved to be a hit with fans.
"It is the best combination in boxing having the two best pound-for-pound fighters on the same show," Loeffler said. "It's win-win since Roman got more publicity in the last two GGG shows than he had previously in his career, and HBO and the fans get the excitement that he brings into the ring with every fight. He is at a completely different marketing level now that he has fought twice on the HBO platform."
Gonzalez, 28, of Nicaragua, was humble as always about being added to a major show.
"I want to thank God, (co-promoter) Teiken Promotions, especially my father (figure, Teiken chief) Mr. (Akihiko) Honda, HBO, K2 Promotions, and my family, and my team for helping me once again obtain the opportunity to fight representing my country and my fans," he said.
Arroyo (16-2, 14 KOs), 30, of Puerto Rico, was a 2008 Olympian and won gold medals at significant international competitions such as the Word Amateur Championships and the Pan-Am Games.
Arroyo has not fought since a third-round knockout victory against Victor Ruiz last April. That fight was Arroyo's first since September 2014, when he floored titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng in the sixth round but went on to suffer a split-decision loss on Ruenroeng's home turf in Thailand.
"I am very happy with this opportunity to fight for the world title again," Arroyo said. "We were confident that this fight would come, and now is the time to continue training to bring this title to Puerto Rico. We know that Roman Gonzalez is a great fighter, one of the best today, and we will get in the best condition to win that belt."
Arroyo's twin brother, McJoe Arroyo, won a junior bantamweight title last year, and McWilliams hopes to join him as a world titleholder.
"It is our dream to be world champions, my brother and I, and I know we will get it done," he said.
Said Loeffler: "McWilliams Arroyo brings a great deal of confidence and skill into this battle, wanting to join his brother McJoe as a world champion."