I wish Barry could catch a break, but I'd take the Esparragoza who destroyed Cruz and Aranda to pick Barry apart in a great one.
I'd pick Barry. Stylistically, I think he's awful for Esparragoza, and much better than Park. And mildly better than Villasana. His deceptive head-movement, body punching, high workrate, aggression and preferred distance should be awful for someone like AE, who's frame needed a bit of space to operate, and who's style needed the same. Barry should get a close decision IMO. I don't think he'd have issues with Esparragoza's range, he didn't have any Pedroza's. While Pedroza was way past his best, he still knew how to use his reach better than AE did IMO. Villasana vs McGuigan could be great IMO. Very interesting fight. I think Villasana probably gives a few guys more trouble than McGuigan, as power won't get you far vs Marcos. He'd really trouble someone like Pacquiao, whereas McGuigan would likely be obliterated. But I think 'r Barry outworks Villasana to get a decision, similar to the Laporte fight but where Villasana actually fights back.
Barry was different than Park stylewise. Not-give-a-fuck brawlers with solid chins have traditionally caused problems for methodical sharpshooters like AE. Fenech would have been a nightmare for AE and would have beaten him by a wide margin. Barry applied more of a deliberate, tactical style of pressure behind his jab, and I feel AE would have found him easier to time and counter than a guy just bumrushing him like Park, or a whirlwind like Fenech. Moreover, while AE was not as skilled as Pedroza, he was a much bigger puncher, and McGuigan could be nailed with straight shots coming in.
I do agree they're different. But not so much so that the comparison is inapt. For example, a comparison which came to mind is that: say Esparragoza is Mayweather and Moon is Maidana, then McGuigan is Castillo. IE: if AE had problems with the aggressive caveman approach, it stands to reason he'd have trouble with the less brutal but more sophisticated style of aggression. Aye, if a swarmer can take a boxer-puncher's Sunday punch, you'd generally go with the swarmer. That's actually my basis here, although I think the head-movement and range is what would give Esparragoza his issues here, and substitute (barely) for the granite chin. I don't think Barry - if he fights smart - gives Esparragoza his shoulder-to-elbow range. Completely agreed re: Fenech. He combined both the qualities of Barry and Moon, but was much better than both. And again, I agree that Esparragoza was a bigger puncher than Pedroza (although, not by much against a prime El Alacran, but definitely the decrepit old man which lacked snap, whom McGuigan beat), but like I said, I think McGuigan probably keeps too close to get stopped here. Esparragoza moved in straight lines to much, and I think his habit of staying on the ropes costs him about seven rounds.
I hadn't watched Esparragoza in years until last week. In the fight I watched, he did well, looked good and won by ko, but I noticed something. He could have ended that fight much sooner but, on 3 occasions, he got nailed with right hands that hurt him. Whether he lost focus, got careless, whatever. It's just a little thing but, in my mind, it might be enough to separate a good fighter from one that is just a bit better.
