I don't see it. I don't think many guys could have pulled off what Sal did. But Sal was just a special, special fighter, while AS fits into that "very good" category we were talking. Gomez only lost in his prime to near prime to two ATGs. AS wasn't in the class of Sanchez and Nelson.
Gomez's chin wasn't glass. And it took AS until the late rounds to take out guys like Cruz and Arranda. Esparragoza is just not as sharp a counterpuncher as Sanchez and not as good a pressure fighter as Nelson. I firmly believe Gomez outboxes him.
I think it comes down to how much Espa is willing to let his hands go. If he lets them fly like he did against Cruz, he might be able to win. If he's more selective, then I think he gets outworked and picked apart like LaPorte was.
