Mayweather approves of ‘Chocolatito’ as No. 1 pound-for-pound

Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez poses for pictures during a media work out in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. Gonzales will fight Brian Viloria in New York on Oct. 17, at Madison Square Garden. AP

There has been a divide as to who should be boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter today.

Some are making a case for Nicaragua’s flyweight champion Roman “El Chocolatito” Gonzalez, some say it’s Kazakhstan’s middleweight king Gennady Golovkin or even American Andre Ward, the debate goes on.

But for Floyd Mayweather Jr., who vacated the throne after announcing his retirement last September, suggests it’s Gonzalez who should really be No. 1 on the list.

“Roman Gonzalez [is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world],” Mayweather said as posted on BoxingScene.com. “Chocolatito, Roman Gonzalez. He’s unbelievable, a good puncher, a good boxer, a very good fighter.”

The Ring magazine has the 28-year-old Gonzalez (45-0 with 38 knockouts) on top of its rankings with Sergey Kovalev (29-0-1, 21 KOs) of Russia at No. 2, Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs)  in third, Ward (29-0, 15 KOs) in fourth and Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KOs) of Cuba in fifth.

Gonzalez had beaten four Filipinos so far, including former unified flyweight champion Brian Viloria, whom he stopped in the ninth round in October of last year.

READ: Viloria: ‘Chocolatito’ best fighter I’ve ever faced

Gonzalez’s win sparked interest of a possible fight between him and WBO light flyweight titleholder Donnie Nietes, who is the longest reigning Filipino world champion, having held his belt since November of 2006.

READ: Nietes eyes ‘Chocolatito’

The bout hasn’t been made yet as Gonzalez ended up fighting McWilliams Arroyo a little over a week ago in Inglewood, California while Nietes is set to take on Raul Garcia on May 28 in Bacolod City.