Chikita Takes a Chance
Former world champion Delia “Chikita” Gonzalez (13-8-4, 3 KOs) goes up against Ada "Ace" Velez (13-1-1, 6 KOs) of Puerto Rico for the vacant WIBA bantamweight world title tonight at the Seminole Coconut Creek Casino in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

by Ricardo Trujillo

Chamberino, NM's Delia Gonzalez never had an amateur career, but she started going to the gym as a child with her brothers at age 11.

“I come from a family of boxers," says Gonzalez. "My dad, my grampa and my brothers, even my sister--we were all into boxing.”

“Chikita,” as she likes to be called, turned pro in 1992, only 19 years at the time, although it took her nearly another year to secure her second fight.

"Women’s boxing was not big in the U.S. back then," she says.

In 1995, however, she became New Mexico’s first world champion since Bob Foster, when she boxed her way to a unanimous decision win over Fienie Kelee of Holland at the Aladdin in Las Vegas to win the WIBF bantamweight title on an-all female card.

It was two days before Danny Romero beat Francisco Tejedor for the IBF Flyweight at the MGM, also in Vegas. She remembers telling Romero, “I beat you by two days."

Gonzalez never got the chance to defend her title. Several attempts to defend against Priscilla Pat in Europe fell through. Finally, her father suggested in 1997 that she give up the belt to move down to flyweight, or even lower.

Gonzalez, a natural strawweight, has fought as low as 106, but with most of her fights at flyweight. She remembers her father saying, “You’re too little to fight as a bantamweight.”

So she traversed to Europe once again, this time to fight Regina Halmich in Germany in search of a flyweight world title.

“It seems every time I fight, I’m fighting the number one contender or the champion of the world," says Chikita.

Gonzalez fought valiantly and almost had her opponent out in the 6^th round, but in the end, it was a loss by decision on Halmich's home turf.

“I fought a disciplined fight but they gave it to her," says Gonzalez. "I knew going in I had to KO her to win that belt.” 

Gonzalez's last attempt at a world title, against fellow New Mexican Adriana Delgado for the vacant IBA Women's bantamweight belt, fell through after Delgado pulled out due to illness.

Tonight, Gonzalez will get another chance when she takes on Ada Velez for the vacant WIBA bantamweight belt. Once again, she will be fighting against the odds-- on Velez's home turf and at a weight disadvantage.

Yesterday, Gonzalez weighed in at 114 1/2, compared to Velez at 118.

“I have been training since I was 11 years old and at age 32, I’m still in love with this sport," Gonzalez says.

Let’s just hope her love and discipline will carry her far in her latest attempt for another world title.

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