More skilled technician: Pernell Whitaker or Ricardo Lopez

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Flo_Raiden, Jul 31, 2019.


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  1. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Some great response! It really does come down to which one you prefer.
    I will say that Lopez has the edge in power, offensive variety, and guard while Whitaker had the better upper body and feet movement, defense, and in-fighting. Both had great jabs, footwork, and counter punching skills. Lopez was ‘by the book’ perfect in technique but Whitaker showed more creativity and wasn’t as limited ability wise.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    #16
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  2. Pimp C

    Pimp C Too Much Motion Full Member

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    We will have to agree to disagree. Lopez was a great fighter he fought in a weight class that never traditionally gets much respect.
     
    Pimp C, Aug 1, 2019
    Pimp C, Aug 1, 2019
    #17
  3. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You'd be surprised by how many people would disagree with you, there's even some that consider him as THE GOAT due to being so dominant (albeit in a so-so division) and never beaten, which I don't agree with. Lopez was pretty weak on the inside and has only fought up close few times, one of them being the Rosendo Alvarez rematch.

    Lopez is one of my all time favorite fighters but I do find him to be both underrated and overrated at the same time, as strange as it sounds. Underrated in a sense that so not many know about him but also overrated in ATG ranking and H2H. He wasn't unbeatable and there are a handful of guys from other eras that could have beaten Lopez like Mark Too Sharp Johnson or Jung Koo Chang. He could have definitely moved up to fight better competition but for some reason he didn't.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    #18
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I don't agree with you at all Flo. Lopez had the edge in offensive variety? Can we see him do some body-punching on the inside? How about Marquez-like uppercuts up close, he's from that culture, right?

    Lopez doesn't have anything like the technical capabilities that Whitaker had. Unless you mean something really really different by technical capabilities than I understand.
     
    McGrain, Aug 1, 2019
    McGrain, Aug 1, 2019
    #19
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  5. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Can't deny Finito's artistic mastery. The guy was like a swordsman in the ring.
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    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    #20
  6. aaalbert

    aaalbert Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Log off with that nonsense! (I mean the overrated comment)

    Lopez had the perfect style. Balance, power, no flaw in his game. But Whitaker definitely was the more slicker boxer and more athletic.
    Personally, I enjoy watching Lopez more but both were special fighters.
     
    aaalbert, Aug 1, 2019
    aaalbert, Aug 1, 2019
    #21
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  7. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Lopez threw great combinations and also had a great uppercut as well. That's how he was able to get some scintillating KOs with his offensive variety.
    Both are very different in a sense that Lopez would not be able to do what Whitaker was capable of doing but he was so good at using the basic style of boxing.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    #22
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  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Lopez was superb at executing his gameplan, which was boxing at distance. Technical excellence in boxing would require that kind of surety at all ranges. Lopez didn't exhibit that, at all. His gameplan in close was to extract himself and he had some decent going-away punches.

    Whitaker was a superb inside fighter. He was superb at mid-range. He was probably marginally better at distance than Lopez. It's a non-comparison. Whitaker was a better technician by miles.
     
    McGrain, Aug 1, 2019
    McGrain, Aug 1, 2019
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  9. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    It is just not possible to produce a video like this for Lopez. He didn't do that kind of work.
     
    McGrain, Aug 1, 2019
    McGrain, Aug 1, 2019
    #24
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  10. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Who did he beat?

    His best win is an older Rosendo Alvarez, who he had major trouble with. His second best win is Ohashi, who Chang beat years before. Guys like Chang, who are basically forgotten, have wins over much better opponents such as Zapata. Some one like Roman Gonzalez is a much greater fighter than Lopez. Do some research.
     
    roughdiamond, Aug 1, 2019
    roughdiamond, Aug 1, 2019
    #25
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  11. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    And if you like Lopez, I suggest watching Yuri Arbachakov. Better version of Lopez's style, with better wins too.
     
    roughdiamond, Aug 1, 2019
    roughdiamond, Aug 1, 2019
    #26
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  12. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Lopez did beat Saman Sorjaturong, the same guy that would end up knocking out Humberto Gonzalez.
    I agree though, guys like Chang and Zapata are almost forgotten despite having a better resume. I'd favor those 2, along with Roman Gonzalez, against Lopez.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    #27
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  13. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Arbachakov is another favorite of mine as well. His style was poetry in motion and just as great to watch as Lopez. One of the best right hands in the lower weights.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 1, 2019
    #28
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