Does Gaspar Ortega deserves IBHOF?

Based on what hof standards were or should be, I would not have thought Ortega should be in the hall.

but w/ fighters like Gatti & Mancini getting in simply for being popular TV attractions, it opens the door for some1 of Ortega's credentials to get in as well.

 

No. He fought all the guys you mention but he was a top guy so that was normal... if he would get inducted, many others should too and basically every top contender should.

Now, what Bolo said. Sure, Mancini should never be in, nor Froch or many others... but whatever.

 

If you're looking at things apples to apples, then he had a hall of fame career. And by that I mean there are a lot of fighters in the hall now that may have fought only twice a year. They may have had a title, but they could never compete with what Ortega achieved in the way of taking on every top contender and giving it a 100% honest effort, many, many times coming out on the short end of a split nod against the very best. Nothing hand-picked, and was asked back to MSG time after time because he always put the fans in their seats. I say, yes. The level of his competition was incredible in a very rough era of boxing.

 

Ortega was a very exciting fighter who doesn't get appreciated enough but with that being said I think he falls short of HOF worthy considering that he has no notable victories despite being in with other HOFers.

 

I could watch Gaspar fight all day. He’s a joy to watch and we are fortunate that he came along at a time when he was in demand for TV, leaving so much film of him to watch and study.

That being said, he falls short of Hall of Fame status to me. Has some nice wins but also some losses to offset those and never quite rose to the top.

I think it would be cools if sports halls of fame had other categories that might allow fighters like Gaspar to get a display or exhibit without being hall of famers — like something featuring top TV fighters of different eras, guys who were in a number of wars (win or lose). Like in basketball, Robert Horry isn’t quite HoF material, but his knack for hitting game-winning shots at the buzzer for contenders and championship teams deserves some kind of recognition — if only a plaque on a hallway recognizing guys known for hitting clutch shots at key times like Big Shot Bob.