Which of these Super Bantamweights hit hardest?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by AntonioMartin1, Apr 20, 2024.


And the candidates are...

  1. Wilfredo Gomez

    13 vote(s)
    68.4%
  2. Naseem Hamed

    2 vote(s)
    10.5%
  3. Erik Morales

    1 vote(s)
    5.3%
  4. Carlos Zarate

    2 vote(s)
    10.5%
  5. Marco Antonio Barrera

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Victor "Luvi" Callejas

    1 vote(s)
    5.3%
  7. Jeff Fenech

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Alberto Mercado

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. Loris Stecca

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  10. Juan Manuel Lopez

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    Since you all know my level of appreciation for one of these guys-which kind of approaches the level in which Max Kellerman appreciated Pernell Whitaker, lmao!-so Im again abstaining from voting, but here it goes:

    Im sure there are a few i could add like Rafael Marquez for example but again, Im constrained by the ten options rule...
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2024
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  2. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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  3. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    Damn i forgot him!
    Kid Meza was a pretty darn good hitter too!
     
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  4. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

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    You beat me to it! Garza could really whack, poor man´s Danny Lopez.

    Victor Callejas is forgotten but boy could he hit with his left hand.

    Fenech doesn´t get enough credit for his victory over Callejas in a pretty rough fight.

    Ruined Callejas. Fenech´s was unstoppable that night.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2024
  5. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    Callejas didnt win a single round.

    And I met Callejas in person and lived 20 minutes away from him by car.
     
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  6. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

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    So lucky. I was fortunate so see his last win against a British level fringe contender, Brian Roche.

    Obviously he was on a different level but struggled somewhat because Roche (a natural lightweight) took his best blows.

    Still it was great to see Callejas in action.
     
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  7. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    He could have been much greater historically if not for management troubles.
     
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  8. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Hamed’s a good shout - it’s just he never really faced anyone decent as a super bantam.
     
  9. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    For me, it has to be Wilfredo Gomez. He knocked out every single opponent he met at the weight including all 18 of his title bout foes. That, my friends, is about as good as it gets.
     
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  10. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    In the era of Eminem, The Craft (Nancy Downs?) The Spice Girls, Lorena Bobbitt, Rupaul, Marilyn Manson and Jerry Springer..I was a big Naz fan!
     
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  11. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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  12. Romero

    Romero Slapping Enthusiast Full Member

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    Jeff Fenech put those strong shoulders of his behind his punches so he could hurt you but I wouldn’t have him share a list with true hitters such as Carlos Zarate
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2024
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  13. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Gotta be between Gomez and Zarate
     
  14. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    It's one of Fenech's two greatest performances, nice one Fred. There's a lot of fanciful comments about fighters ruining other fighters but i think you are right in this case. Callejas had been quite impressive and was really getting talked about. Fenech stopped him in his tracks. It was one of the most mutually dirty fights of the era with both going HARD. Hell, Callejas even outdid Fenech on that front with his butts and elbows. From memory i think it got away from the referee.
     
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  15. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    To be fair, Callejas hadnt had a top level fight like that in about 2 and a half years (Stecca 2) and he had never faced anyone like Jeff Fenech.

    Callejas should have been an all time great, had it not been for his management, I think a fight with Eusebio Pedroza, against whom Callejas wouldnt have to worry so much about power and who was a bit on the down slide come 1985, would have been an interesting proposition, and he could have beaten Jaime Garza and Juan Meza. We are talking at least a few more belts and 4 or 5 defenses here.

    At that time frame a fight with Wilfredo Gomez would have been another great proposition also since Gomez was also long on the tooth. it would have been probably the greatest slugfest between two Puerto Rican knockout artists ever. I can see Luvi beating Gomez. Alas, they were and are best friends so it wasnt going to happen.

    I cannot see Luvi beat Azumah Nelson or Barry McGuigan, unless the McGuigan contest was in Las Vegas at 120 degree heat.

    That said, unfortunately, as far as Fenech, all I knew was from reading about him. The Callejas fight, which was the first time Id seen him fight, showed me that at the time he was possibly the third best boxer in the world behind Mike Tyson (remember, this was my point of view in 1988, now i see the next guy Im about to mention as the best of that era) and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
     
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2024
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