50/50 fight for me. Both were almost the same size with Roman having the longer reach. Part of me thinks that Davila might at least be good enough to beat Roman to a close decision win since he won’t be at a major disadvantage in terms of size. Roman is slightly quicker and probably better power but with Davila’s size, ring IQ and craft this could be a tight fight. I’ll take Davila slightly. Would be a boxing match for the purists.
Agreed with every word. Davila isn't physically overwhelmed here like he was against Gomez and Zarate.
I'd pick Roman, barely. Davilla's lack of succes vs Lora doesn't give me confidence against a style like Roman's. I know he was past prime, but not by too much. If he was a good style match up here, then he'd have had a bit more success IMO. Roman MD
Very good point, but to that I would say three things: 1. Happy Lora was a good 3-4 inches taller than Roman. 2. Lora was more physically gifted than Roman. 3. Like you said, Davila was a bit past it by then. I dont think he ever beats Lora, but I'm sure the late 70s Davila puts up a more competitive fight. Either way, Roman vs Davila is extremely close, and I have zero issue with picking Roman.
Davila takes it to him and wins a close decision. The more aggressive he is, the better he does IMO. Payakaroon did it, picking his spots well, and was so close to winning - I had him down by 1 point, lots of other scorers have it 115 - 113, as did FLEA himself. Davila isn't as physical and Kontoranee, and probably wouldn't keep quite the same pace either, but he is much more skilled and intelligent, and this would work in his favour imo. His performances against some of the upper echelon 118lbers at his peak also makes me favour him. Also Lora was physically huge and was just naturally more dynamic than Roman in his distance judgement and style. He was also pretty strong. Roman was a much more disciplined technician in comparison. I mean he was dynamic, but could be a bit algorithmic imo and didn't have that bebop edge the way Lora had it.
Agreed on the Lora-Roman comparison. Roman was more technically proficient, but Lora was simply a far more dynamic and creative talent.
I know it sounds silly about an obscure 115lber, but I think Roman is getting slightly overrated on forums lately when discussed, especially H2H. It seems his best parts and performances are discussed, but some of the closer calls and weaknesses are not mentioned. Not to sound like a grouchy old man, but I think it is the highlight reels, which he is very well suited for. Much better than the Galaxy hype which has been constant for years and years, though. It actually made me underrate him at first.
I haven't seen the Payakaroon fight, sounds good. Is it? If so, I'll score that later on, after Garcia vs Campbell.
Maybe I'm being guilty of overrating himself myself. Here's my opinion on Roman - I think he would have beaten Johnny Tapia, and might always have the style to beat Watanabe, though that may not be true. A younger Watanabe might very well have taken him apart. I dont think Roman ever beats Moon, and I find it impossible to envision him beating a puncher like Khaosai given his dodgy chin. Truth be told, I think its probable that Inoue probably KOs Roman. Just too much firepower.
I actually think the contrary. I think he has a very good chin. Only two stoppage losses, one on cuts the other a corner retirement. In his final fight, he took massive bombs from a hard punching guy like Moon. He got up from the best that Nana had to throw at him. He also took on Avelar and wasn't KOed. The only KD I can remember aside from those two fights at the end of his career is Uchida, which was a balance thing IIRC. I don't think his chin is bad at all. What's more, is that Galaxy had massive issues with Kongtoranee Payakaroon, who employed a very tidy, strategic style of out-boxing.
I used to think he'd beat Galaxy and was 50/50 with Moon. Then I saw the Payakaroon bout and now think both clearly KO him. Tapia fight is very interesting. Here's an interesting addendum. The story on the Watanabe bout is that, in the last third, the Chairman of Teiken gym told him 'you're up by 3 points' (which is apparently true, as he was heard and quoted). Typical of Watanabe, he apparently did not fight to his 100%. The decision was announced, and Watanabe was so disgusted with the gym that he completely lost momentum and eventually retired (it took him near 5 years to announce as such, officially). Really, just a big excuse, but an interesting one. I am personally of the opinion that a prime Jiro beats Roman, but it is NOT an easy fight at all.
Also, I had no idea that they're the same fighter. I thought there were another Thai called Payakaroon who fought Roman.
Same guy, just boxed radically differently in the Galaxy fight compared to the Roman fight. He's Samart's brother and also a Muay Thai legend.
I thought he may have been related to Samart. He seemed quite talented in his own right. Is it good fight? Goddamn it, the people demand to know!!!
It's pretty decent. Here's my score: Had this on the watch-list for a while Gilberto Roman vs Kontoranee Payakaroon Roman - Payak R1: 10 - 10 Both feeling each other out. R2: 10 - 9 Lots of set up, not a lot of throwing. R3: 9 - 10 Kon parrying and very aggressive. Lots of skill and strength. R4: 9 - 10 Really making Roman work here. R5: 9 - 10 Kon bulling in! Clear round for him, bullying Roman inside and around the ring. R6: 9 - 10 Close. Roman starting to get the measure. R7: 9 - 10 Kon again getting the best of the action. R8: 10 - 9 Roman adapting; Kon tiring. Nice uppercuts. R9: 10 - 9 Roman coming on, sensing Kon's fatigue. R10: 10 - 9 Roman in rhythm now, Kon slowed down. R11: 10 - 9 Kon very gassed. Roles have switched. R12: 10 - 9 Dominant round for Roman. TOTAL: 115 - 114 ROMAN Notes: Great bout. I recommend to all the resident scorers here. Very close! Payakaroon tracking Roman extremely well. Really showing his massive fighting experience here. If Payakaroon had better stamina, he could've won this, definitely. He was completely gassed in the end.
Most excuses are bullshit, but this one actually might hold some weight. If Roman beats Watanabe, I just purely see it as a styles thing. I absolutely feel that prime Watanabe was the better of the two, and Watanabe matches up better with Moon and Galaxy.
Roman was more proven than any other Super Flyweight, which is probably why he gets rated so highly. I do agree that he might not be as great head to head as his accomplishments suggest, though. I mean, I have waxed lyrical about the ass whooping Konadu gave him for a while now. Though I probably did so more to direct some much needed attention to the Ghanian, who was like his countryman Ike Quartey on speed. Just not as durable.
I was comparing are scorecards Jake, and I have a question. Is the sixth a typo? The writing implies you meant to give it to Roman, but you didn't. That and the first were the only rounds we disagreed on. You had it 6-5-1 Roman, whereas I had it 8-4 Roman. Here's my card: Gilberto Roman vs Kongtoranee Payakaroon Watching this at Rough's mention. Seems like a good style clash, and TBH, I have a new found interest in the Payakaroon brothers. Tactical opener, with neither man doing much punching. Lots of feints, teasing of foot angles and "giving different looks". Either man could've took it but Roman's jab seemed better IMO. Similar second, but Payakaroon applying pressure more effectively. Payakaroon marching Roman down and trying to set up big punches. Roman remaining slippery, making Paya have to rely on the jab. Roman having to rubberneck a lot of Payakaroon's rights here, and he's not doing a good job of it. Kongtoranee having trouble finding Roman centre ring but landing big shots when he has Roman against the ropes. Brilliant movement from Roman early in the fifth, but he didn't keep it up. Payakaroon out-worked him, and landed some big shots. I loved Roman's combinations in the sixth. Roman not having the same success with his movement, double uppercuts and left to the body like he was in the sixth. Seven for Payakaroon. Roman dictating range better in the eighth as he takes little half-steps into Payakaroon when Paya tries to attack. Completely smothering that big right and tight left hook. Actually Roman fought with success on the front foot most of the round. Momentum shifted in favour of Roman by now. Paya's workrate has drastically dropped and Roman's having his way with the jab. In fact, the rest of the fight was basically the same with Roman out-working and out-landing a tired Kong. Roman - Payakaroon 10 : 9* 10 : 9 9 : 10 9 : 10 (38/38) 9 : 10 10 : 9 9 : 10 10 : 9 (76/76) 10 : 9 10 : 9 10 : 9 10 : 9 (116/112) All the recent talk about Roman being overrated might have some weight to it, but I don't think he's quite as overstated as he's being made out to be. I'd still give him good odds of beating Galaxy, although now I probably would lean towards the Thai. And I'd have always picked Moon over him. I'd pick him over guys like Jiro, Penalosa, Tapia, Too Sharp, etc. Nana Konadu is probably my favourite match up. Really finding that one hard to predict coz it's really difficult to get the image of Tapia winning every round out of my head. Almost as difficult as it is Nana using Roman as a yo-yo. Kong looks pretty damn good too. And he was clearly capable of changing up his style to get an advantage.
Sixth isn't a typo from what I remember, it was just the only short analysis I had of the round. Then again, it has been over a year since I watched it, so if it's a mistake - who knows?
