The Prince of Mexico: Carlos Cuadras
By: Francisco Martinez
Coming off a controversial unanimous decision loss to Nicaraguan Roman Gonzalez, Carlos Cuadras is looking to avenge that loss most in attendance would say was much more closer than that of the official judges scorecards would indicate. Some would argue Cuadras was indeed the winner on that night in Los Angeles at the fabulous Forum in Inglewood, CA, where a pro Gonzalez crowd blew the roof off the venue. Carlos Cuadras is set to fight March 18th in New York at the MSG on the Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs card. Also making his PPV debut via HBO.
“I’m happy about that. I plan to take advantage of the opportunity and put up a great spectacle that’ll leave a lasting impression like the last time so that the people want to watch me again” Carlos Cuadras is familiar with countryman and opponent David Carmona who’s coming in with a record of 20 victories and 8 knockouts. Cuadras remembers him from when both were 6-8 round fighters. Sums him up to be a durable fighter not offensive but can create and wait for openings.
Maybe something that helped him go 12 rounds in a unanimous decision loss to the Japanese “Monster” Naoya Inoue “Just imagine this, he went 12 rounds with Inoue and if I can knock him out that means the possibilities of me defeating Inoue are good. It would be great if we fought. I feel I have the power to knockout Carmona. He’ll go down” Naoya Inoue is perceived by boxing enthusiasts as the kryptonite to Cuadras last opponent 4 division champion Chocolatito, Roman Gonzalez whom Carlos Cuadras has unfinished business with but first is first both have matters to attend on March 18th and if successful on that night a lucrative rematch is possible.
A loss not taken as defeat by Carlos Cuadras as he truly believes he was the victor and wrongfully detached from his WBC 115lbs title. Cuadras looks to remove this thorn from his side as he likes to say at some point this year. Having been in the ring with Chocolatito, Cuadras had this to say about his rival “It surprised me he didn’t hit as hard as he claimed (smiles) I had a certain strategy because he said he had iron in each hand and who knows what else he was claiming. After I felt he didn’t hit as hard as he was saying I was able to stand (and trade) so he better brace himself for the next fight because I’m knocking him out. You better not back out cause I got your medicine right here”
Carlos Cuadras used his energetic charisma in taunting Chocolatito through out the process of promoting the fight once at the inaugural press conference by drinking a Nesquik chocolate drink in what he called a “chocolate break” bringing laughter from the press, media in attendance. In return the Nicaraguan crowd fired back at the weigh in by mocking Cuadras. Chanting “Princess” Cuadras going by the nickname of “Prince” Cuadras replied by warning them he would defeat Chocolatito and then they would have no choice but to show him respect.
The rematch hit somewhat of a roadblock due to money demands but not exclusively to the pay purse demanded from both. Roman Gonzalez promised Carlos Cuadras a rematch in front of the cameras convincing Cuadras and his trainer Rudy Hernandez that he would do just that. Rudy Hernandez simply said Gonzalez not living up to his word “sucked” as he went on to say “It’s hard when a person says they’re going to do something and they go on interviews and they talk about it and than they change their minds but it’s a business. At the end of the day we are fighting March 18th and if we’re to win and he’s to win his next option is he fights Carlos Cuadras or he vacates the title”
A mandatory rematch ordered by the World Boxing Council to try and put together one of the most anticipated fights this year. Carlos Cuadras expresses that the WBC title is being held hostage by Chocolatito claiming he is squeezing out another term from his title reign by taking on the Thailand rival Srisaket Sor Rungvisai whom Cuadras defeated soundly in 12 rounds about 3 years ago in Mexico. Cuadras goes on to says this about Chocolatito’s rival “He hits hard. Chocolatito is gonna have to have a good strategy. I want Chocolatito to win. I don’t want to fight the Thailand guy again I already beat him. I hope he wins and he better have a good training camp because the Thailand fighter is tough. He’s a danger to Chocolatito”
He goes on to say this about Chocolatito “He felt he wasn’t as big of a puncher as he thought he was and that’s why he didn’t want the 2nd fight. He looked to keep his title for one more fight because he knows it belongs over here. That belt is Mexico’s and you’re just borrowing it on behalf of Nicaragua” March 18th is the objective for both fighters then talks of a lucrative rematch can be explored by both teams who are under the same promoter Teiken promotions based in Japan. Teiken historically known for promoting the best smaller weight fighters in boxing.
The charismatic Carlos Cuadras a great talker who applies a mental stratagem for his opponent to overcome before even stepping into the ring and having to find a way of overcoming another obstacle in his pure boxing ability assures things are still professional between stablemate Roman Gonzalez by wishing him good luck believing he’ll need it and hopes all turns out right for Gonzalez as he relishes the opportunity to step back into the ring with what many consider the pound for pound #1 fighter in the world today.
March 18th Gennady Golovkin vs Daniel Jacobs on HBO PPV a stacked card accompanied by Roman Gonzalez vs Srisaket Sor Rungvisai for the WBC 115lbs title and Carlos Cuadras vs David Carmona at the Mecca Of Boxing, Madison Square Garden in New York. Don’t miss it.
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