Wilfredo Gomez rated 22nd best fighter in the last 50 years (1996)

At his absolute 122lb best, the 3rd best fighter I evrr saw that fought during my 65 lifetime

 

For me, what stood out with Gomez was his footwork. Once he lost that he became vulnerable but up to that point he was special because of how he could zip inside, unleash ferocious combinations, and leap back out without getting hit. He was very fluid.

 

They get no argument from me. He was incredibly gifted and one the best I've seen.

 

When i think of fighters with great footwork..he's the first guy who comes to mind. He was also a good combination puncher

 

Was the perfect 122 lb fighter when the Division was created. Had Don King as a promoter.
Great 122 lb Champion.

 

PfP hardest puncher ever?

 

I think you're right Morlocks...I was dazzled by Bazooka Gomez during his reign as 122 champion. He was utterly brlilliant. I think he would have tortured and slain Ruben Olivares and Alfonzo Zamora, just like he did Zarate.

 

Vs Zarate, I'll never forget seeing it on tv...I had no idea that they were going to televise it on Wide World of Sports...I was hypnotized by what I saw.

 

Gomez was a fantastic boxer/puncher in his early days. He could glide in and out seamlessly while throwing lightning fast combinations of extremely hard punches. Later on he evolved (devolved?) and seemed to trade a helluva lot more whilst neglecting his previously sterling skills. I've always suspected he (eventually) got a bit seduced by the effect his big punching power had on opponents. Maybe he slowed a bit who knows.

He was one of these guys completely suited weight wise at a junior division. It's a shame he wasn't born a natural featherweight but he sure cut a swathe thru where he did sit naturally.

 

No. His power, if anything, is overrated, He was an exceptional combination puncher, but his one-punch power was "only" very good, not great.

 

There was no one ever in the 122 division who could touch Gomez...not even Barrera. The only fighter who may have given him a go at it would possibly be Jofre, but he didn't stop over in that division.

 

His approach to offensive output made the one punch stuff irrelevant.

 

Of all the weight divisions in boxing, is there's no bigger gap between the no.1 and no.2 fighters than at jnr featherweight with Wilfredo Gomez as its all-time number 1.

 

I love Barrera but Gomez is quite away above him and everybody else at this weight.

And I don't know if it's fair to say his record was padded. You're right that the division was new and he was so far above everybody that he won with ease. But he was also a phenomenal talent regardless.

His greatest challengers were from four pounds south, of course. He beat great bantam champs Zarate and Pintor and was probably the best fighter in the world up to Featherweight (and maybe at any weight) for about three years until the fight with Sanchez.

At his peak, what a fighter he was!