Ricardo Lopez vs Roman Gonzalez

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Tin_Ribs, Nov 9, 2018.


  1. Tin_Ribs

    Tin_Ribs Me Full Member

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    Tussle of the revered sub-flyweight midget beaters, 12 rounds at light-fly. The textbook technical mid/long-range perfection of Lopez against the slow-burning but skilled and inexorable forward march of Gonzalez. Can Lopez matador Gonzalez, light him up on the way in or drive him back, or does Roman edge and slip his way inside Ricardo's comfort zone and lay on the pressure with those heavy accurate combinations to head and body? Have at......
     
  2. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    This is very very far from anything remotely of me being any kind of authority of this division. I've seen more of Lopez on film and I do favor him to the best of my knowledge to take a decision. Sorry I cant give you a better answer TR.
     
  3. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    I don’t even want to...this is a rabbit hole.

    What I’d prefer (and sorry to hijack this but I need help!) is a dissection of their combined resumes at both 105 and 108 (and achievements) to decide who the greater fighter was?

    P4P: Chocolatito, clearly.

    But just up to 108? That’s a real debate IMO
     
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  4. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Lopez was the better fighter and quite clearly for me but Chocolatito’s career is more impressive I think.

    I’d pick Finito at their respective bests via a close decision.
     
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  5. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Love both fighters. But I think people forget that Finito struggled against Rosendo Alvarez twice and only winning narrowly in the rematch. Chocolatito was a much better version of Alvarez who also fought better competition and showed better inside skills. Hard to pick but I think Gonzalez would have edged Lopez, similar to his fight with Estrada.
     
  6. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Alvarez was about 3 or 4 pounds over the limit for the re-match though it’s worth noting.
     
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  7. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah I remember. I actually had Lopez edging Alvarez in the rematch. Alvarez should have been given the win in the first fight, mainly because of the KD.
     
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  8. BoboFett

    BoboFett Member Full Member

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    I think the WBC headbutt rule is what saved Lopez in the first fight if I'm not mistaken.
     
  9. Tin_Ribs

    Tin_Ribs Me Full Member

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    No problem mate, no need to apologize. Just happy to hear opinions.
     
  10. Tin_Ribs

    Tin_Ribs Me Full Member

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    I'm happy for that approach instead, anything to evoke good discussion.
     
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  11. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    They’re different fighters, Alvarez probably had the harder dig and a sharper overhand right, he also beat some excellent fighters down at 105.

    Of course, Gonzalez was far more skilled and versatile and had better defence and more punches in his arsenal.

    The overhand right is a punch I’ve always felt Lopez struggled to see.
     
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  12. Tin_Ribs

    Tin_Ribs Me Full Member

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    I wouldn't argue that Alvarez hit a shade harder than Roman with one punch nor that his overhand right was a tad better. He was an excellent fighter and beat better fighters than Lopez did if anything. I thought he narrowly deserved the nod in the rematch as I recall it. You're right that Lopez was vulnerable to right hands, most of the notable Romanza fighters were imo, overhand or straight down the old pipe. Moreso than jabs and hooks at least, though it's hardly an uncommon vulnerability. Lopez, Rafa and especially Humberto. Even JMM was open to them though less so at his best than the aforementioned guys. Roman less so but I'd still say he was better at defending against hooks and such.
     
  13. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    This argument is good enough for me to agree. I didn’t think Alvarez was elite.
     
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  14. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Lopez by decision, I may be biased because I loved watching his skills
     
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  15. Tin_Ribs

    Tin_Ribs Me Full Member

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    I think I'm favouring Gonzalez lads, thinking about it. Not by light years, but I think I'd have a few quid on him to turn the trick in a brilliant fight. It mostly hinges on if he could handle Lopez 's power I think and not shell up too much under fire on the occasions that Lopez has him in the long to mid-range firing zone. Keep his composure and tight guard to slip and shift in that minimalist way to mostly avoid the variety of Lopez 's offence and impose himself with his own precision, heavy combos and superior size/strength off the back of his overhand right. Up closer where Finito was more vulnerable. I reckon he could.