Not an easy matchup for Pernell given Laguna's handspeed, range, sharp jab, and lighting fast lead right. I would expect Whitaker's class to tell in the end, but Laguna is one of the more difficult matchups for him stylewise. Pea in a close one.
If I was to tell you my lightweight favourite 'tiers', I'd be telling you that Laguna is right up at the top, with Angott and Nazarov, whereas Pea is probably in the second, with Pacquiao, Duran, etc; so while I have a slight bias to 'R Izzy, it's not by much. I love Whitaker as well. That said, my immediate instinct is to say Whitaker wins a close one, like Xplosive. Lots different, little factors in my head are pointing to Laguna, I'm sticking with my original position. After watching Whitaker get nailed by Hurtado's right hand almost whenever he threw it, and really struggle against an opponent with feet quicker than his (by that point) and that he was taller. Laguna can do that, as he was quicker than even a prime Pea, and much, much better with his 1-2s than any Hurtado. Hurtado's left hook was a pretty big part of stopping Whitaker from following him though, and Laguna didn't really use it. Hurtado used it to stop Whitaker from cutting him off when he pivoted off, and he because it came at such a strange angle, he couldn't put much power on it but there was little threat of a counter. Pea just didn't get past it, and simply slipped it. Pea's stand of taking away a right hand was just to not be in position to take one, and if he was, crouch it or simply avoid it. His method of getting in position to be hit, but not be out of position to land, was by drawing a jab with his lead foot on the inside of an open stance, then by shifting out with his back foot before letting the front follow. This meant by the time his and the opponent's centre lines had realigned, Whitaker was right behind them slapping them on the ass. I don't think this would work with Laguna, since Whitaker wouldn't be quicker, and he wouldn't indulge a fencing contest, since he'd know he wouldn't be out-jabbing him. I can see him shifting his weight and snapping a rapid straight right which drops Whitaker in a Jones Jr. vs Johnson-esque manner. I also think Whitaker would fight like he did vs Haugen, rather than he how did vs Ramirez or Nelson. He's even said he likes to make the fight if he opponents didn't, and I think that means he'd be aggressive here. Like I said, I suppose it'd be one-sided to not look at the fighters who Laguna fought who were a bit like Pea. Saldivar's angles and jab troubled Laguna (albeit in a fight I thought he won) when he come forward. He didn't throw it like Whitaker did per se, but he did set up the same with strategy. He made sure he kept his foot on the inside, so his lead-hand was directly in front of Laguna's centre line. He feinted with his a bit more to set up a wider, more potent, offensive rather than just relying on the jab to control the fight while getting the opponent's respect. Pea didn't throw power shots to knock you out, he threw them to get your respect. Saldivar was the opposite. And it would seem that he massive issues getting off on Locche, and couldn't find Elorde much. I put that down to the Locche's great defence, Elorde's great footwork and Saldivar's great jab. Hmm, I wonder who had all three of those... I think Laguna lands his right hand more than any body ever did, but he didn't have use the left hook enough to do what Hurtado did, and look how it turned out for him. Whitaker likely cuts off the ring enough to land better shots, before he doesn't look quite so unhittable in the process. So, a Whitaker, close, but unanimous decision for me. Definitely can see Laguna winning, though.
One undermentioned aspect of both of these guys, is how damn dirty and mean they could be. Lots of spite and venom when they strung combos together, and neither shied away from dirty fighting.
Great stuff, George. The only thing I’ll say is that Laguna’s right hand lead was never really a counter punch. Nor was it proven to be even as effective, much less more so, against the southpaws he faced as it was the rest (though that’s a bit skewed given how high quality the southpaws he faced were). So I’m not sure how big a part of this fight it would actually play, even though it seems a great weapon on paper. Always thought Laguna would be a tough matchup for Pete, though.
