Underated? I really like him. His feet look a little untidy at times, and he goes straight back which you never like to see, but in his case this is a little decpetive - he punches beautifully of the backfoot, is technically perfect in his punching almost always - in this he reminds of Monzon a little bit. Anybody else see that? I'll go a little further - Esparragoza is one of those guys who possibly benefits from retreating in a straight line, he punches so profitiently that the inevitability of being caught is probably worth the risk in that he has excellent chances to counter - and with either hand. Because both carry power. 27/30 KO's tells it's own story. There won't be many punchers in the history of the division to match this kind of ratio. Not a lot of early blow outs because he was very measured - again, Monzon? - but reviewing footage shows what he's got, oftentimes he will catch an opponent with what appears to be a glancing blow and his man is gone. Fast hand, too, if not lightning. He is also the comsumate road-warrior. From what I can gather the man himself came from a family that was well off, but his country, Venezuela, was suffering an economic downturn, and so there was little money to make him home-town defences a possibility. Japan, Belgium, Korea - where he lost his title - he travelled all around the world in search of a title and then to defend it. KO's were probably a premium, and when he had his man hurt he rarely let him off the hook, although he also seems to have been capable of great, great patience. Lethal, but controlloed - like Monzon. Anyway, that's some of the good, the bad? Not a great resume. Some good fighters - and the destruction of hometown hero Steve Cruz to win the title is one of his best wins - but some good fighters Mok-Park, Montoya etc. Anyway, no worldbeaters. Also, he never got near another belt, holding only the WBA title. He lost twice, a KO in one of his first pro fights and then no other losses until his very last fight (L PTS Park, in Korea), where upon he immediatly retired. As to flaws in style I leave that up to you gents. What do you see? Great heart, punching, techincally excellent, I think this champion is somewhat overlooked.
I found him to be a good fighter-maybe even very good, but not really that special. Very mechanical and just seemed to be missing something to take him to the next level.
Mechanical is accurate, but need that be a criticism? Fighters need technical prowess for a multitude of reasons but one is so they have something natural to fall back on in times of trouble, what rythym he did have never seemed to desert him, no matter what. As to his missing something - I know exactly what you mean. What? In your estimation?
I just get the feeling his one-paced methodical style would hold him back against other elite feathers. He doesn't really transcend it like Monzon or Arguello did to a large extent.
I think you're being a little unfair - he was never really given the chance against the best of the best, but at the level he was fighting at he was never bested - until it was time to quit. None of the good fighters he took on undid him until it was time, making your "very good" appraisal the bare minimum that is fair in my view. He's an awkward subject though.
I don't think i'm being unfair at all. after all i do think he was a very good fighter.I would pick him over someone like Hamed. Some other things that hurt him IMO, are that he was unimpressive against the best fighter he fought, Villasana and the rest of the fighters he fought were mostly mediocre. Not to mention losing to one while not shot per se.
