Who's the best fighter in history you would pick Loma to beat?

I don't think you were. You are sitting on two chairs here.

For one part you say that "Loma is truly a great fighter, just not in the class of Duran" which is reasonable enough, although you reached the conclusion after he was beaten in his third weight class.

Yet, at the same time, he has no chance whatsoever against Azumah Nelson.

A fighter who has no chance of beating Azumah Nelson and gets laid out by Lopez doesn't sound like a "truly great" fighter.

It sounds more that you see Loma as a contender level guy, and of course, you have right to have that opinion too.

Also, for your upcoming counterpoint: Azumsh Nelson was no Gary Russell. Neither was Lomachenko

 

I said the best guy I would probably pick him over is Brian Mitchell. If you follow my posts, you would know I'm extremely high on Mitchell and consider him a top 10 all time Junior Lightweight, so I'd say thats pretty high praise.

No, he would not beat Nelson. Azumah would apply too much educated pressure, and had too much firepower.

If you're wanting me to pick Loma over a guy as talented and with as deep a resume of wins as the Professor based on beating guys like Walters, and Martinez, then im sorry, no.

You have a horrible tendency for recenency bias, for all the flack you used to give guys like myself and Cdogg for being nostalgic.

I say Loma can't beat Nelson, you get your panties in a bunch.

Neil just claims that Loma would beat one of the top 5 fighters who ever lived (Pep) and you dont bat a fucking eye.

A "contender" level guy would not be favored over Mitchell, Hamed, and Corrales, so cut your BS.

 

Once again, the flack I have given has been about measuring different eras on same scale.

Just like with Nelson: he lost several rounds plenty of times, but it is all forgotten because we rate him based on his total accomplishment. Whereas we tend to single out the performances of modern guys and base our picks on them.

Loma fought all even with Linares before prevailing by KO, but the struggle means he'd be easy meat for the good fighters. Nelson fought all even with Mario Martinez and escaped with a SD, but that doesn't tell everything about him

 

This is true, but it’s always been the case. Every generation of fighters has been treated the same way. That’s why it would behoove all of us to wait until the dust has settled before giving an honest evaluation of a fighter. But that’s never gonna happen, because what fun is that?

 

If messengeboards existed back then, would have been fun to see the backlash srl would have gotten after the duran loss

 

What Pea said earlier. The more mobile, jab-orientated and technically fluid but lighter hitting types of stylists ranging between excellent and great at 126 and 130 are where he'd likely pin his colours to the mast with the most success. George gave good shouts with Howard the Great and Fammo as examples. Fighters who aren't going to consistently drive him back or wade in with a bit of finesse to stop him from pivoting and controlling the angles to get off first. Or exploit him not being a great counterpunches.

He could matador some of the slower footed greats too, I think, on the right day, if he could turn them often enough or make them overextend, but him not tending to roll his defensive manoeuvres into counter attacks outside of basic stuff would still stop him from taking fighters like Marquez by the short and curlies imo. He's aggressive too by nature, so even the slow footed types would get chances if they have sophisticated counter punching traits and are able to do so quickly, accurately and creatively in combination like Marquez.

I kind of see where someone is coming from on the surface picking him to be a good foil for Pep, but Pep was too offensively voluminous, varied and sharp despite his defensive tendencies imo and even more expansive a talent than Loma.

 

Beautiful post, as always Tin.

Especially agreed about the last part. I agree Lom matches up well as stylists, but yeah, Pep is a bridge too far.

Loma's famous for footwork, but Pep's footwork was even more outstanding.

 

Would he be too big for Ruben Olivares, or would Olivares run him out of the ring like Teofimo Lopez did

 

Probably too big, but considering Ruben blasted Chacon at 126, and gave Arguello Hell at 126, I wouldn't be positive.

Its not like Loma faced a puncher like Olivares at 126.

 

Be interesting to see a Loma vs Esparragoza matchup at 126.

 

I think im gonna stick with:

Best guy he beats at 130: Mitchell

Best guy he beats at 126: Hamed

 

lomachenko would beat casamayor

 

I think me and Tin discussed this on ESB. He could beat Famechon IMO. Has the style for it.

I once picked Loma over McFarland some time ago, something I regret to this day.

 

I wonder how Driscoll would do against him? Such a talented technician but from such a different era.

 

Yeah, Loma would beat Famo, which is a compliment, Famechon was excellent.

Just a few months ago, I heard talks that Loma beats Pedroza...

Jesus.

 

Oh my days, Pedroza would fucking hammer Loma.