Wilfredo Gomez vs Eusebio Pedroza

Gomez lacked one thing, speed, and it would have hurt him in a fight with Pedroza throughout, Eusebio later round stoppage.

 

I'm picking up what you are putting down and you could well be right. There's a bit of wriggle room in there tho.

Per Gomez not showing great power at 126 - he really didn't spend much "quality" time there at all. Even semi notable bouts there are confined to Sanchez, Laporte and Nelson. Two of those are among the greatest to ever fight at 126 (with great chins and durability) and the other (Laporte) has one of the greatest chins in boxing history. Sanchez brushed off hard shots with aplomb. Gomez was also well and truly on the way down against Laporte and Nelson.

If we saw Gomez there more often and preferably in his best years we would have been given a much better barometer as to just how hard he did or didn't hit there. I think we are relying a lot on speculation. Perhaps he knew himself he might struggle to compete with the top there full time but then again he did match Sanchez and actively yearn for a rematch.

Also did Sanchez "totally expose" him or prove what a great great fighter he himself was against guys that came at him? I take nothing away from Sanchez but there is also Gomez's weight mistake, which may or may not have had an impact on his actual showing, win lose or draw. Perhaps he would have pushed Sal a bit harder, maybe he wouldn't have. It's impressive however that he gutted his way back into the fight somewhat.

I agree "most of his competition was mediocre" but there was some good (admittedly thin on the ground) in there as well. Granted Zarate and Pintor were moving up but both are top shelf wins at the weight imo. Plenty of top bantams have moved up and has success at Feather let alone in between the divisions. Cruz was decent and Meza for me was a good fighter.

I think your position is solid but there are a few little tidbits of unknown in there.

 

Pedroza by ninth round stoppage. Gomez would be in over his head.

 

Wilfredo Gomez was one of my favorite fighters growing up, I tried to never miss a fight, but at FW and especially against Pedroza no way he wins, I would bet on the top 10 all time at FW beating Gomez, who in the top 10 could he beat at FW? could he even beat Mcguigan, Lockridge or Leija or Esparagoza whom I would rate none of them in the top 10 or maybe even top 15 All Time at FW, all 4 would have a shot at Gomez at this weight.

 

I've never gotten the idea that Gomez was bigger than Zarate tbh. Zarate was a huge bantamweight and if anything I'd say that Gomez was a shade undersized at feather. There doesn't look to be any disparity on film to me - I'd be willing to bet that Gomez could've made bantam for a stretch early in his prime.

Also, what @JohnThomas1 said.

 

Gomez had difficulty making JFW. He'd have had a hard time making BW. For the fight with Eddie Ndukwu, which was supposed to be a title defense, he showed up 7 pounds over the 122 lbs. weight limit, so it ended up being a non-title fight.

 

I was always under the impression it was more from a lack of discipline though, partying and not giving a ****, especially against overmatched guys like Ndukwu. Harada was only a small bantamweight who ate himself out of the flyweight division but by the time of the Rose fight he was struggling badly with the bantam limit.