Eusebio Pedroza - How good was he, how do you rate him?

Top 10 at featherweight, for certain.

 

.................I just did a thread on him, actually. 20 title defenses looms large.

 

Schooled by McGuigan.

Go on McGrain, ban me you ****ing idiot, you've done it for no reason before.

 

Thank ****.

 

Loads of Pedroza on YouTube now.

 

Pedroza was underrated and under appreciated during his reign. Most boxing fans focused solely on Salvador Sanchez, partly due to Pedroza not being as stylish and being somewhat of a dirty fighter.

Sanchez barely beat Patrick Ford whereas Pedroza took him apart.

Pedroza had grown long in the tooth by the time he fought McGuigan.

To me, Perdroza is a top 10 featherweight.

 

He was underrated in his day, but now he gets his plaudits.

He was definitely a hell of a fighter, and you have to respect his longevity, but Jesus Christ he was a dirty, dirty fighter.

 

Marcel was better. Shibata fight is now on YouTube

 

I was a huge Sal Sanchez mark, but I had a sneaking suspicion that Pedroza would have found a way to beat him -- at least the first time (assuming, of course, that there was a rematch).

His rep as a dirty fighter has a lot to do with Ferdie Pacheco screaming foul every time Eusebio so much as looked crossways at Rocky Lockridge.

 

Eusebio Pedroza was one of the many all-time greats that I grew up watching and became facsinated with. I thought that he was a great fighter. His long reign as World Featherweight Champion from 1978-1985 went unduantingly parelled to that of long time World Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes, also from 1978-1985.

Eusebio Pedroza was quick of both hand and foot speed, had very graceful balance, catlike reflexes and was always on his toes throughout the whole 15-rounds of a fight. He also had some decent punching power when he stood his ground with an opponent and was very crafty(?):naughty as well. I think the boxing world, as well as Pedroza himself definitely, missed out on a huge superfight in the early 80's(perhaps 1983 to be exact)between Pedroza vs Salvador Sanchez when the great Mexican champion Sanchez was killed in an automobile accident late in the summer of 1982, three weeks following his dramatic come from behind title defense against challenger and eventual H.O.F. Azumah Nelson, via 15th round tko victory. Eusebio Pedroza vs Salvador Sanchez would've been a great fight that would've no doubt brought out the best in both fighters. Other potential superfights that Pedroza slight missed out on due to promotional politics was fights against Wilfredo Gomez or Danny "Little Red" Lopez, both of whom I'd favor Pedroza over before I'd have him favored against Sanchez in a close yet hottly contested battle.

I don't know personally where I would rate Eusebio Pedroza amongst the all time greatest Featherweight Champions. If I had him in the top 10 he'd probably round out that list at no lower than 8. Extend it to the top 25 featherweight list no lower than 14 or 15. However on my personal P.F.P. all time latino favorites list I have Pedroza in a virtual tie for 5th place alongside Julio Ceasar Chavez Sr: 1)Alexis Arguello
2)Salvador Sanchez
3)Wilfred Benitez
4)Roberto Duran
5)Julio Ceasar Chavez Sr.
(tied) Eusebio Pedroza
7)Wilfredo Gomez

 

His reputation as a dirty fighter actually had more to do with the 1,001 shots he duck to Juan Laporte's groin.

 

Eusebio was a top ten, top fifteen featherweight, who was avoided by Salvador Sanchez, and unfortunately, in old age, beaten by Barry McGuigan.