Could Wilfredo Gomez ever have beaten Salvador Sanchez

It was a great fight. doesn't mean he wasn't green though.

 

He was a bit inexperienced, but he put on an exquisite performance. I would bet the house on that version of Azumah beating ANY version of Bazooka. And I'm not even a gambler.

 

Perfect post! Thank you, Sir.

 

i'd say he was green but how he'd of went in a rematch is the million dollar question. In later fights Nelson with more experience boxed in a less frenetic style than for the Sanchez fight in general. On the other hand it might of been that lack of respect and just going for it along with his natural toughness, ability and talent that caused Salvador all the problems. How would of rematch of panned out? Both fighters might of shown each other a lot more respect, who would that favour? I don't know but it could of been Sanchez in that type of fight as well. Two great fighters and one of my all time favourite fights.

 

100% agree with this. The fight that mattered happened. And Gomez came up short in it.

Just an addition to that - in those circumstances, where one fighter has won so comprehensively and conclusively beaten another, the clamour for a rematch from fans tends to be less. It's a moot point because of Sanchez's death but I wonder how close was a rematch to happening? Had anything actually been signed?

 

I don't think so.

Sanchez was signed to fight a rematch with Juan Laporte. Laporte didn't really deserve one but at least he lasted the distance the first time - unlike Gomez.

KO mag. once did a piece:

"What if Salvador Sanchez hadn't died."

I can't remember if they envisioned a rematch with Gomez. I do remember they had Sanchez moving up to lightweight to fight Alexis Arguello.

They knew he was going to fight Laporte so they started the piece with him again winning a clear decision over Laporte.

 

At the time, I remember the buzz and rumor that he would move up and fight Arguello.

 

If rematch had occurred it would have been mid 83 nearly 2 yrs after their initial
match where Sanchez destroyed Gomez. However a lot would have happened
in that period. Gomez and Pintor was a incredibly brutal where both fighters were
never the same after. Sanchez though was still peaking and was on the way to being
a ATG before tragedy intervened. Sanchez destroys Gomez again abruptly . Sanchez
ko in 3 rds.

 

No way at all, He could never have beat Azumah Nelson much less Sanchez in a rematch

 

A 15 round fight, and Sanchez's featherweight iron jaw, doesn't help Gomez in any fashion. Although a potential Sal v Wilfedo rematch was being discussed before Sal's death, Gomez has always held Sanchez in super high regard.
I think Gomez knows the real answer.

 

It's his own fault for sure.

Having said that it is still up to the individual if he thinks it had any affect. We see Toney fans bending over backwards to excuse him again Jones. We've seen drained fighters struggle before.

Personally i too would solidly favor Sanchez as he seemed to have intangibles that really bode well for him against Gomez. Stylistically Gomez was in his sweetspot i think.

 

As an aside Gomez was well and truly declining by the time he fought Azumah despite a good showing against Laporte.

 

That's why I feel that unless there had been a rematch no later than December of 82 then Gomez would have had next to no chance of beating Sanchez. He fought Pintor then and that fight took a lot out of him.

 

Yeah, I was one of those people for a long time when it came to Toney against Jones. Now I think Jones would always have beaten him but regardless, Toney blew his one chance so there's no excuse really.

 

Absolutely. Gomez was probably considered by many to be on the slight decline even going into the Pintor fight.