Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gómez

And Sanchez was not a hard puncher. It was an accumulation of punishment. From the Sanchez fight onward, Gomez's face had a tendency to blow up during fights. And his defense and chin were not as good at 126 as at 122. By the time he fought at 130 lbs, he was badly faded and relied on his heart and politics. The Lockridge decision was very dubious. It was kind of sad to see a once great fighter get destroyed by a very mediocre Alfredo Lane.

I think the Zarate and Pintor fights were his best and seal his status as the best 122 lb. champion. Although both guys were natural 118 lb. fighters, they were very good champions in their own right. To be honest, his competition at 122 was pretty mediocre save for these two guys.

 

Sanchez wasn't a huge puncher but he didn't slap with his shots either, and he rattled untold clean shots off Gomez's head. Anyone would have been affected taking all that. Anyway, I guess I should focus more on his 122-pound time, as I originally referred to his younger days as being close to perfection.

 

He is no doubt the greatest at 122. But from Puerto Rico, that's debatable, strongly debatable. I;ve often wondered who was considered the best when they were both in their heyday, Gomez, or Benitez?

 

When he was at 122 he was the best...puerto Rican...GOAT at 122...BOTH....This fight vs Zarate was just plain damned AWESOME!!!
It was when he started facing the bigger guys that there appeared to be *****s in his armor. But at 122, he was PEERLESS...today, he would torture Rigo before stopping him. Damned great fighter..no doubt.

 

Yes, at 122, he was as close to perfection as you could get.

 

Gomez was like a leopard attacking Zarate.

 

Of the top of my head. Duran (lightweight, Panama), Arguello (130, Nicaragua) although the 130 is arguable , Chang (108, Korea) but he's even more arguable than Arguello. Is Chavez considered the greatest junior welterweight?

 

Flea wouldn't like it but a lot of guys would say Khaosai Galaxy. If Wales is a country (and it isn't )then Calzaghe.

 

What's Flea got against Galaxy. That guy dominated at 115 lbs for quite some time. He was STRONG in a Fenech sort of way.

 

I'd consider Dixon and Langford to be Canadian, since they were both born there...and they both have arguments to be considered the GOAT at bantamweight and light heavy, respectively- as well as being number one and two in the nation (and province of Nova Scotia).

 

Wilde is probably the GOAT from Wales in any every. :bart