I'm not one for dream matchup threads much, but the idea of this one intrigued me......... Let's say we have the Wilfredo Gomez of the Laporte fight going againt the McGuigan of the Pedroza or Taylor fights. How do you see it going down?
With a bit of irony, I would take Gomez on your scenario. But if you change it to both fighters performances against LaPorte, I take the Clones Cyclone.
I loved Barry Mcguigan, but he would be the one going down vs Bazooka Gomez..Gomez by a ko in 7 preceded by a beatdown.
See, I'm torn on this one........I can't help wondering just how different Gomez was between the Laporte and Nelson fights. Was it that he'd regressed so much, or maybe it could be that he was simply allowed to fight as he pleased against Laporte, who just couldn't or wouldn't pressure him and let Gomez work him over like a heavy bag? I'm not entirely sure, and Barry's body attack and greater physical strength could very well play a huge role here.
In Juan LaPorte he was fighting a guy with a proven tungsten-grade chin..it's excusable that Gomez didn't stop or deck him. What he did do was put on a marvelous boxing display, however. Anyone else, that LaPorte version of Gomez would have stopped soundly...including Barry.
Fair point, but I'm thinking his ability to move and box would have been badly hampered by the strength and inevitable aggression McGuigan would bring. Laporte just stood there and let him do what he wanted.
McGuigan was good, but I can't imagine him beating a prime Gomez. Gomez had the boxing ability and (especially) the punching power. Barry could be hit, and Gomez tended to clean house against anyone he could hit accurately.
Apologies for being off topic...but it seems as good a time as any to ask the question. In the Sanchez v Gomez fight, I was quite surprised to see how seemingly easily Gomez was rocked by Sanchez' punches. Almost from the first counter Sanchez threw, he seemed to visibly check Gomez, who displayed a fine chin just one weight lower down. One could argue that later in the fight, when Gomez' eyes started to swell so badly, he could not see the counters coming properly. Fair enough. But even early on, he seemed visibly shaken by solid punches from a good but not devastating puncher in Sanchez. Were the punches just that well timed, or what's up there?
I think it was a case of Gomez simply never getting his legs back after that first knockdown. That one hurt him badly, it was no flash KD. He walked right into a hard hook. Huge credit to him for having the heart to fight hard afterward, but his legs were toast. I actually think Sanchez could have made the fight a little easier by circling more after that and maybe then he wouldn't have taken so many shots and wouldn't have let Gomez get close again on the cards, but I think that was a calculated strategy on Sal's part; he knew Gomez was badly hurt, eyes were messed up, and he was also visibly tiring. Because of all this, I think Sanchez welcomed an energy-sapping punchout with Gomez and allowed him to land a few because he knew his own shots were doing more damage. That played in his favor after that pivotal first round.
I don't think Gomez vs laporte was a marvelous boxing display.Especially as he looked on dodgy legs during some of the few exchanges when Laporte opened up. Laporte gave a complete non-performance of Steve Gregory levels. Gomez imo never looked great or particularly sharp again after the Sanchez fight.Which makes the Pintor win all the greater in some ways. He was still good enough to take McGuigan but i wouldn't be surprised to see him overwhelmed eventually either.It would most likely be an awesome fight mind you.
I have to admit some surprise in reading so many votes for Gomez. He was undeniably a far better career fighter, but at 126 I think it's supposing a lot to just assume he could beat McGuigan, who looked relly quite good in beating Pedroza. The Gomez that fought Sanchez in '81? Yeah, I'd pick him over the Irishman without hesitation, but the Gomez that fought Laporte was not that fighter.
Again, i really was a fan of Barry's, but look, he beat an "at the end of the trail" Pedroza..wasn't overly powerful or fast defensive whiz..i.e., nothing anywhere in the realm of Sanchez,..and Gomez, at the time of his win over LaPorte, hadn't yet lost it all..he would have brutally closed the show on Barry in about 7 or 8 after dominating him. We shouldn't get too carried away by the subpar performances and ko losses suffered by Gomez at the tail end of his career when his lethal magic had alreadt been well spent.
...I think you've nailed it. That first knockdown definitely took something away from him. Excellent fight overall. Thanks for the reply. :thumbsup
