Wilfredo Gomez Appreciation Thread

Well, Gomez's idol was Harada - Japan's all time best.

Its become a topic about Japan's current best.

So, I guess it is a Gomez topic

 

High quality version courtesy of Mario Sanchez at ESB.

 

Gomez toyed with Davila.

 

I always found that really random.

 

Yeah, it's like Yuri looking up to, and naming himself after Ebihara.

 

Speaking of which, Inoue vs Arbachakov?

 

I'd take Yuri over all versions of Inoue below 115.

 

I'll do that, but it will be Friday before I get a chance.

 

Azumah Nelson claims the Gomez camp sent whores to his hotel room the night before the fight to try to gain an advantage. And he also said they refused to turn off the AC in his locker room when he was trying to warm up.

 

It would not surprise me one bit after all the shady Thailand stories I have read. Sending women is a tactic as old as time Its even in Gilgamesh.

 

We got a Wilfredo Gomez appreciation thread to 100 posts! Thanks, Ugo! Not even being sarcastic, thanks for giving this topic the life it needed.

Who else needs an appreciation thread?

 

Gerry Penalosa!

 

Yeah, he warrants one. Make one!

Its more suitable comin for you because I'm not as fanatical about Penalosa as you, whereas I'm a huge Bazooka fan.

 

Since we have been talking about knowing and not knowing the sport, how about this guy?

Ismayl Sillahkh


J/k, not trying to pick a new fight

 

Lol. Yeah, I remember this. Sillahkh did look like the goods in a few fights.

Then it was revealed that he was hiding a Khan chin.

 

Great thread! Gomez is someone that should be remembered more for his skill and being an almost unbeatable force at 122. He was such a complete, well rounded fighter at this best who at times sort of reminded me of Duran and SRR, and I know that's pushing but that's how good he was at the time.
I remember awhile back I've seen people calling Wilfredo Gomez a "one dimensional puncher/brawler who Sanchez easily dispatched" and I couldn't have been more annoyed with that statement given that the majority of these people have probably only seen Gomez's fights with Sanchez, Pintor, Nelson, etc. without even seeing him at his absolute best.

 

Highly recommend watching Gomez’s fights with Lopez 1, Kobayashi, Dávila, Cruz, Tirado, Yum, and Zarate to see a good view of his footwork and movement. People mostly think he was a one dimensional slugger when he wasn’t like that all. People got that perception after he was beat by Sanchez and became more in love with his power later on. At his best he was the most well rounded fighter who knew how to blend offense and defense.

 

Absolutely, which was the point of this thread.

To dispell the false perception that Gomez was this Trinidad-like one dimensional puncher, by showcasing his immense talent/skills.

He was beautiful to watch.

 

Hehehe

 

Ya he was already past his best

 

So, outside of Zarate and Pintor, who would we say is the best fighter Gomez defended against? Cruz? Meza?

 

Cruz, Meza, Lopez, Kobayashi, and Yum were all quality fighters who would have found success with a lesser champion around.

 

I might add that while Gomez destroyed Kobayashi, it wasn't as esthetically beautiful as the way Arguello destroyed Kobayashi. That was one of Alexis' top 3-5 best performances, imo.

 

We're back in full lockdown, and I'm getting paid to do three fucking things and that's get pissed, watch boxing and exercise at home.

So I've decided I'll go on a Gomez binge first. I thought I'd go with the PR GOAT, but a binge on Carlos Ortiz sounds like there's way too much alcohol involved.

 

I'm not on a binge of any specific fighter right now - but speaking of Ortiz i was considering rewatching the Battle Torres fight today for the 100th.

 

I love that fight. Easily my second favourite Ortiz performance, after Ramos I.

 

Ortiz was 24 at the same - I think the Torres performance was the apex of his abilities.

 

I'm just watching the Zarate fight, and what I have to watch tonight and tomorrow, is: Juan Antonio Lopez I, Royal Kobayashi, Juan Meza, Leonardo Cruz, Dong Kyun Yum, Raul Tirado, Rocky Lockridge, and Salvador Sanchez.

I've seen the Pintor and Davilla fights more than enough. Zarate too, TBF, but I love the version on YouTube with no commentary and the fight takes about 15 minutes to watch, sooooo....

 

Gomez's beat down of Meza aged well as Meza would go on to KO Jamie Garza and Mike Ayala after the Gomez loss.

 

Yeah, I'm fairly familiar with Meza and Cruz outside of their fights with Gomez. That's why I mentioned them as his best wins outside of Davilla, Pintor, Zarate and Laporte.