Who Has The Best Chance Of Beating Wilfredo Gomez at 122?

Jofre probably.

 

Jofre. It would have been his perfect weight.

 

Jofre would beat him imo.

Of opponents who would have the best chance, but I'd favor Gomez: I'd say Pac.

I used to say Fenech, but Pac had a better chance of beating Gomez than Fenech would have.

People may say MAB and Morales, but for the life of me I cannot see those two beating Gomez at 122.

 

Maybe not but Gomez certainly doesn't have it all his own way with them.

As for my answer, Fenech and Jofre IMO.

 

I can see Fenech beating the Gomez from the Pintor fight and on but pre-Sanchez, I lean clearly to Gomez.

 

Agreed

 

Lots of people say Jofre, but I don't see it. Jofre was amazing and all, but I can't help feel that he's a bit overrated. Not only do I think Gomez looks better on film, but he's bigger too. Not a fan of that pick. That said, of someone who would actually weigh 122 the day of the fight, Jofre has the best chance.

Morales and Barrera have good shots IMO not because they were good enough as fighters, but because they'd outweigh Gomez by upwards of 10lbs. Gomez isn't gonna obliterate those guys if they were the same size, but when you factor in that Gomez didn't exactly translate well upto featherweight, (or Super, but he was very old by then). Those two have good shots, better than almost anyone. Almost.

Pac has the best chance. He's bigger, quicker, hits like a ****in truck and was extremely explosive back in his younger days. Problems are though, that he was easy to hit, didn't show the chin he did above 122lbs and was extremely raw. Gomez would counter him silly IMO and KO him, but Pac could land clean and take Gomez out too.

The odds I'd give you are, astrix coz Jofre would be #1 if weight difference isn't involved:

#1. Pac
#2. Morales
#3. Jofre*
#4. Barrera

 

Neither MAB nor Morales were guys who were putting on an enormous amount of weight after the weigh-in.

In fact, I rewatched Morales-McCoullough like a month ago, and I think Morales came into the ring at 126.

 

While I don't agree with your point on Jofre, I can see where you're coming from.

Still, it stands to reason that Jofre needed a super bantamweight division in the early 60s. If he had one, I suspect he would have moved up and dominated.

Gomez was more athletic than Jofre, had more sophisticated footwork, and was a more explosive puncher.

I just give it to Jofre because I think he was more steady and complete than Wilfredo, with a far better chin.

Jofre was DEFINITELY a better infighter.

 

Both were super-featherweights when they fought eachother. Marco was actually a little heavier.

 

Oh I definitely think he'd have dominated a Super-Bantamweight in his own time, but that's quite different to moving up and beating the best SBW ever. I definitely agree about their strengths and weaknesses, but I find it hard to see Jofre getting inside consistently enough against the versions of Gomez from Zarate/Davila and such without getting hurt bad. Imagine if it were Gomez teeing off on him on the ropes like Medel was.

 

If Olivares could carry 122 well, could he beat Gomez?

 

No. Not IMO. Too chinny. Especially above 118, and even at BW, he was hardly Wayne McCullough.

 

Tricky, as a lot of great fighters who have fought and won titles at 122 have actually peaked or had their greatest moments in other divisions. Of all the guys mentioned so far, Gomez is the only one who really made 122 his castle, and whose name is inextricably linked with the division. Morales is maybe the (half) exception to the rule, as he was undefeated (at least on paper) there and a bit more inconsistent at the higher weights, but that's a slight stretch.

I think Gomez is a bit too nasty and evil for Barrera, who could be made to lose heart and put into survival mode when the going got tough. I think peak for peak, Gomez stops Barrera late on. Morales has a better shot at 122 based on styles, I think - just depends on whether he can avoid that tendency he had to switch off or flitter in and out of fights.

To beat Gomez you really had to be able to impose your size and will on him - I'm not sure there's a negative or pure 'stylist' fighter who could do it at 122. Rigondeaux, therefore, is ruled out. Gomez could be countered and occasionally squared himself up as he dropped his jab, so Rigo might have some early success, but ultimately I think he's too brittle for this job. I think Fenech is 50:50, and as others have astutely pointed out, it could depend on wheter he's facing a pre or post-Sanchez version of Gomez. Fenech was definitely capable of imposing his will on Gomez and it'd be rare occasion when Gomez would be facing someone almost as dirty as him, and who didn't mind a bit of the dark arts. Finding that one difficult to call and it'd be a war so intense that neither of them, winner included, would likely be the same again afterwards.

Pacquiao, as others have said, could be the guy. Quick as greased lightning, confident, great power, never afraid to slug it out and a lefty on top of that. Again, we're looking at an absolute war here. Tricky to know exactly where Pacquiao peaked in terms of weight, mind you, as though he fought and beat some decent guys around 122 his greatest opponents and tests came at the higher weights. Gun to my head, I'd take Gomez to outlast him and stop him late at 122, where I get the inkling the weight isn't quite optimal for Pac. But not a fight I'd like to bet on.

One last hat in the ring, just to put the feelers out - what about Donaire? Granted, I think Donaire peaked just below and was at his absolute all-round best at 118, but interesting to ponder all the same. Gomez could be countered and Donaire's counter left hook was still a threat at Super-Bantam, and Nonito is one tough lad as well. Again, though, I suspect Donaire wasn't quite active enough as a 122 pounder and underused his jab there (although Gomez was guilty of that at times, too). I think Donaire wins a victory of sorts by going the distance, but comes up short and is hanging on a little at the end as Gomez takes the W.