"Textbook" is the word that comes up most often when people describe him. Every punch looked technically perfect; an excellent jab, straight-right, left-hook - he had a very complete offensive game. He also had knockout power, could take a punch and was a tremendous counter-puncher. So, yeah, he was pretty great. He would definitely be on an ATG list, although I'm not sure where off the top of my head. If the fights against Carbajal and Chiquita Gonzalez happened, his ranking would be much higher.
I think he beats both guys by ko. Gonzalez would try and box him and I couldn't see him having much success going down that route. He was also vulnerable and was knocked out a couple of times in his prime. I think Lopez' power carries up to 108 (his punch accuracy and timing was as important as any natural power) and he stops Chiquita in the mid-rounds. Carbajal was a better styles-clash - I think he'd probably try and jump on Lopez and apply non-stop pressure like Alvarez did. He could be slightly reckless though and it's hard for me to picture him not walking into a straight right or Ricardo's sneaky uppercut. Another stoppage for Finito.
Would love to have seen the carbajal fight but as you stated Lopez' deadly timing and punch accuracy would always be the difference! Beautiful style any young boxer should study this guy.. Watching JMM you can see the Lopez style that Beristain taught shining through.. C'mon the hoops!! (Henke67)
At times JMM looked like a replica of Lopez - particularly in the latter, more aggressive, part of his career. Although the transformative job he did with Rafa Marquez and taking Daniel Gonzalez into the HOF may be the best evidence of Nacho's greatness, I still think of Finito as his masterpiece. - watching the game tonight wasn't too enjoyable but at least we won.
Not in the 100. Grossly overrated in that ATG stakes. But almost flawless in terms of what he could do (which didn't include infighting or beating world-class fighters).
ive never seen a fighter with better solid all round boxing skills. Hes a real hybrid type of fighter, can do it all! For these reasons i find it hard to call him over rated, might not have went up in weight to fight the two fights that most wanted to see, however he cleaned out a division in awesome fashion while demonstrating boxing skills that any real boxer can only appreciate!
Finito was the prototype and Don Nacho's greatest fighter. The Marquez bros would routinely spar with him and get their butts whipped by the smaller Finito, it was after yrs Rafa at his peak was able to win a sparring session against him. You could see it in their styles Jmm especially how they tried to mimic Finito, but never as defensively good or explosive as him. By the time Rosendo Alvarez fought him, Finito had slowed down considerably, and even still had enough to turn back the challenge of Alvarez. Carbajal was a superb puncher, very fast and explosive, deadly with both hands, while Chiquita, tho not as athletic as Carbajal, had his own power, but better boxing IQ. Both would have given Finito a run for his money.
For beating much superior competition while also looking brilliant themselves. The same could apply to Olivares, Saldivar, Canto, JMM, MAB, Morales and Zarate.
