Sanchez vs Gomez

It was actually quite a good, competitive fight during the middle rounds. It wasn't quite as one-sided as it's made out, Sanchez just started and finished the stronger (and bigger) fighter. There was definitely a pretty big drop-off in effectiveness for Wilfredo past 122, even though he was still a very good fighter above that weight. Obviously he'd have never beaten Sanchez, but I see him as more of a purely one-weight fighter, in that he fit one weight class perfectly and never really was able to find his niche in any others. Watch him at 122, vs an excellent technician like Alberto Davila, and see how much of an overwhelming phenom a prime Gomez was. I'd have never imagined someone with Davila's technical skills and savvy would've been toyed with and made to look as totally ordinary as Gomez made him. It's difficult to find footage of many fighters that can even compare to him in terms of all around ability.

 

Gomez has heart :good.

 

As sweet pea said, it was a competitive fight compared to what we mostly hear regarding this fight, Sanchez had a terrific 1st rd & I think that had an effect on Gomez for the rest of the fight... then neither REALLY took over until rd 8 where Sanchez showed his great finishing ability & finished him off.
This was thee fight which told any doubters that Sanchez was the real deal considering just how brilliant a fighter Gomez had been til that point.
Good fight.

 

I think while it's fairly competitive, scorecard-wise, the overriding feeling that Gomez is hanging in there with the better man. The conclusion was likely throughout the fight, it was just a matter of time. Gomez looks desperate throughout the fight but his iron-will kept him in the contest. Great fight nonetheless but Sanchez would have beaten Wilfredo every day of the week.

 

HTe nelson fight is similar.Competitive, but quickly looks like only one man is goign to win.

 

Yep, The Lockridge fight too. Wilfredo's competitiveness in that one can make it look like the fight is closer than it was, when in reality Rocky is winning nearly every round (apart from the final few rounds, when he 'should' have been about 8 points in the lead). Gomez was never convincing at these higher weights at all. I think if Wilfredo fought in the days of 8 divisions, he'd have settled at bantam or would never have been a world champion.

 

Gomez wasn't prepared to battle the best featherweights because he was really a bantamweight who exploited an over-the-weight division that shouldn't exist. Fighting with extra poundage gave him some advantages against bantams in over-the-weight matches, but didn't help him at featherweight.

I view Gomez' career as a lost opportunity. The bantamweight division was full of talent in those years, and had Gomez fought in the division, he may very well be recognized as the greatest bantam who ever lived. Instead, he fought in an in-between world without the historical legacy of a true division. Historically, he has to be seen as only a good featherweight.

 

I never bought in on the theory that Gomez didn't take Sanchez seriously and he showed up out of shape.

This was a big PPV fight and a chance for Gomez to show off his talents in the U.S.

Plus, boxing is a dangerous sport and you better be prepared when you are moving up to a higher weight division to fight a great Champion.

Sanchez just won the fight because he was bigger and could hurt Gomez, where Gomez really couldn't hurt Sanchez.

 

Gomez was a great fighter with a lot of heart but Sanchez was too big and fast for him. Gomz put up a great fight.

http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Gans-Biog...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241836336&sr=1-1

 

It was competitive in a sense, but Sanchez had the upper hand on him all the way IMO. They both were landing punches with about the same regularity at times, but Sanchez's punches were by far the more effective and doing all the visible damage.

Agreed. Even though Gomez kept fighting back and made a very spirited effort, I don't think he ever got his legs 100% back under him, or his head fully cleared. It basically looked like Sanchez grabbed the momentum early and then never really lost it.

 

BTW, did anyone else notice how Sanchez was sitting all alone in his corner before the start of the 8th round? I mean, his cornermen were just no where in sight! I remember seeing that live and saying "WTF??", then saying to a friend of mine, "I think he told his cornermen to get their car started, because he's about to get the knockout in this round." Sure enough, he got the KO in that round.

 

But he did. He fought Sanchez, Nelson and Laporte and only missed Pedroza. After losing to Sanchez he was VERY actively pursuing a rematch and a return to the division.