Pedroza is greater? No way. Did you see columbian's scalps? Locche, De Jesus, Frazer, R Gonzalez, Hector Thompson, Mamby and Gimenez. Plus he was dominant in his division. Cervantes is much better
This new perspective has me thinking that I incorrectly rated Pedroza as a greater. I actually underrated one of my all time favorites. But yeah, glad I'm not alone in thinking Kid Pambele was better. Just more dominant than Pedroza.
Clearly Pedroza for me on both fronts, but I’ve found Cervantes basic and underwhelming as a fighter and am likely guilty of underrating him as a result. Not a fighter I’ve spent too much time on. I don’t see what the big deal is as far as his above listed resume, either. An old Locche who by accounts schooled him in their first fight, a smaller De Jesus in an admittedly dominant performance, and a cuts stoppage win over an excellent fighter in Rodolfo Gonzalez while behind on the cards in a close one. The other wins don’t really blow my hair back. Then you have the loss of his title in the heart of his prime to a 17 year old. Not to take anything away from Benitez.
This "Old" Locche is better, than any of the Pedroza scalps, as well as De Jesus. And Locche wasn't so shot like for example Olivares. Yeah, Pambele's performance against Small Esteban was dominant. Pedroza's performance against small Lujan wasn't. It was very very close. And Cervantes lost to benitez in a very close fight. Close Pedroza's wins over Bernard Taylor and 2x with Lockridge "don't really blow my hair back". Is Carrasquilla better than Thompson? Is Kobayashi better than Frazer (x2 by knockout)? Is Pat Ford better than Mamby? Is Laporte better than "old" Locche?
The fact that two divergent point of view can reasonably be considered here in the way of opposition proves I think, just how close these two are. I don't know that one's ledger is enormously better than the other. I guess I would only point out that Lujan did come at the very end of Pedroza's reign, at which point he had notably slipped. I thought he'd pulled away toward the end of that fight anyway, leaving little doubt on the cards but I never actually scored it, only watched it live when it aired in 1985. Aside from the opposition, either view of which could be argued, it then breaks down into who on film "blows your hair back" to use the vernacular at hand. For me then it's very much in Pedroza's ball park. Cervantes is workmanlike, efficient, and almost snakelike in his attack, but Pedroza can do more things and is more adaptable I think.
Close enough for me, to not argue with someone...But Pedroza better and greater but not by a huge margin. This is a pretty fair thread idea, and I am curious to see some deeper takes.
