Who wins this? Fenech will force power punching Gomez onto the back foot and make him box, how would this turn out? Coulda been one of the greatest fights of all time.
Gomez was a great boxer. Watch him against Davila. Perfect punch picking and ring I.Q. Fenech was a monster though. Great fight between two of the best H2H guys around this weight. I go Gomez via late K.O. Not many I'd pick to do that to Fenech and every outcome is a possibility here IMO.
I can't see anyone with a face-first strategy making it work against a young Gomez, good as Fenech was. When his legs were still with him, he'd have butchered Fenech, who would have presented too many targets.
Interesting fight. An ATG matchup at super bantam. Fenech was just a beast...the pressure he put on opponents was something else, and his chin never failed him at the lower weights. It's his bloody mindedness that I find so interesting. He never let the other guy rest for a second, forcing his opponent to fight all the time...he ground fighters down. His conditioning was superb, and he'd often get the job done by just being the fitter, more durable guy. Fenech was pretty darn scary...very intimidating character. Not someone I'd like to bump into in a dark alley. Gomez is a beautiful fighter to watch. I like that he never abandoned his boxing skills, despite his power. I love watching his smooth, fluid style. He went to the body very well, and even against Sanchez, where he was pretty much up against it right from the start, he didn't neglect the skills that made him so formidable. In losing, he showed a champion's heart. He also showed against the likes of Pintor, that he could win a war of attrition against a tenacious opponent who didn't easily fold when hit with power shots. Usually when fighters pressured Gomez, he'd take them out, as he did against the likes of Kobayashi and Yum, but imo Fenech has the beard (and just as importantly, the faith in it) to force the fight. I think the pattern of the fight would be clear enough. Fenech would bull in, looking for the opprtunity to put Gomez on the ropes and work him over, smothering him with an avalanch of leather. Gomez, despite being the bigger puncher, would (or should) elect to box and keep the fight on the outside, recognising his overall superior boxing skills. But he loved to scrap, and had great faith that whatever he hit, he could hurt. I think there would be long stages in the fight where both men willingly engage in close quarter combat, Gomez driving those slashing hookercut type of punches to Fenech's body, and Fenech welcoming the exchanges. On the inside, it's pretty much a toss-up, at least in centre ring. Gomez had very good inside skills, and a wide variety of punches to hit you with inside. Fenech's durability and fitness would be his biggest weapons, and he'd be landing his own vicious punches. Overall though, I think it would be a mistake to engage Fenech in the trenches for too long, especially if Gomez' back is to the ropes. Fenech excelled at the inside game, and he'd deny Gomez the leverage needed to put real power into his shots. If Gomez traded in close for extended stretches, and he's the one on the ropes, Fenech would just outwork him and smother him. Gomez, for the most part, would need to control the centre of the ring, and deny Fenech the chance to gain initiative by bulling him to the ropes. He has the skills to outbox Fenech from the outside, and counter Fenech's rushes with big power shots,, but inevitably Fenech would have his moments by forcing Gomez to the ropes. He's too good and tenacious a fighter to not impose his will at times in the fight. So essentially I see this fight as the bull vs. the matador. If the matador can restrain himself from fighting too much on Fenech's terms, I think he has the overall skillset to win. My pick is Gomez via close but clear decision, with Fenech being the first man to go the distance in a championship fight with Gomez.
Gomez would win a MD over 15. Fenech would have to be careful when rushing in as he did against Callejas. Since Gomez's power has to be respected.
Going against the grain i believe Fenech's aggression, lack of fear and brutality would have knocked Gomez off his usual game somewhat. Gomez was always the boss in his peak division, but he might not be here. The key for Fenech is to absolutely smother him (taking away his power) and rough the hell out of him. This is the key to the fight. I reckon he can pull it off. I'd put the odds in favour of Gomez at 7-5.
