Gilberto Roman
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Gilberto Roman (29 November 1961 – 27 June 1990) was a Mexican boxer who became World Super flyweight Champion (115 lbs). He is considered by many fans to be one of the great champions in this division.
In 1986, Roman dethroned Jiro Watanabe of Japan as the WBC Super Flyweight Champion. In 1985, Roman had lost two fights early in the year and many thought his days of being a contender would be over. However, he reeled off eight straight wins to earn the fight with Watanabe, and won a twelve-round decision.
As champion, Roman made seven title defences. One of these was a draw against former WBA Flyweight Champion Santos Laciar (30 August 1986). Nine months later, Roman and Laciar met again on 16 May 1987, with Laciar taking the title by eleventh-round knockout.
Sugar Baby Rojas took the title from Laciar and Roman earned another title shot against the new champion. On 8 April 1988, Roman regained the title with a twelve-round decision. Roman made five more defences, including victories in rematches over his former nemesis Laciar, Juan Carazo and Rojas. Following his victory over Laciar, Roman lost the title to Ghana's Nana Konadu on 7 November 1989. Konadu lost the title to Sung-Kil Moon, whom Roman challenged on 9 June 1990, losing by a TKO in the ninth round. That was Roman's last fight, as he was killed in an automobile accident less than three weeks later.
Roman had a record of 54 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, with 35 wins by knockout.
Preceded by Jiro Watanabe |
WBC Super Flyweight Champion 30 Mar 1986–16 May 1987 |
Succeeded by Santos Benigno Laciar |
Preceded by Sugar Baby Rojas |
WBC Super Flyweight Champion 8 Apr 1988 –7 Nov 1989 |
Succeeded by Nana Konadu |