I have always loved this division and still do. So being bored, and at the same time pissed that these guys have never gottten the praise and notoriety that they deserve,....I came up with sixteen fighters for an alltime tournament at this weight. Some of the choices may be critiqued by some or many..and that is cool. but keep in mind that all contestants are considered to be P4P at their very best at the weight of 122 pounds. Here we go. 1] Edre Jofre-------- ---- Wilfredo Gomez 1] vs. vs. 8] Cestino Caballero- ----Vuyani Bungu 8] 4] Carlos Zarate---- ---- Manny Pacquiao 4] vs. vs. 5] Fighting Harada-- ---Jeff Fenech 5] 2] Marco Antonio Barerra---- -----Rueben Olivares 2] vs. vs. 7] Daniel Ponce De Leon---- ----Lupe Pintor 7] 3] Naseem Hamed---- -----Erik Morales 3] vs. vs. 6] Rafael Marquez----- -------Israel Vazquez 6] Who comes out of this fantastic tournament on top? Damn, I don't know if I could pick any less than 5 winners here.
REED DOESN'T Have a Problem w/the NAMES U've Included... REED's Only Question is,what Made U Match them Up as U Did???:dunno: REALISTICALLY,REED could See Gomez,Hamed,Pacquiao,Olivares OR Barrera Coming Out of this Tourney ON TOP... Just Depends on WHO they Fight & WHEN... REED
To sort of explain.......I listed 16 fighters, and then kinda divided them into two groups based on my own preference. Then I ranked both sides 1-8 seedwise. But, on a sidenote...I noticed that you didn't include Jofre as a potential winner of this tournament. Why?
I think Jofre would have been a stylistic nightmare for guys who were punchers foremost. He would have been hard to beat and verrrry hard to hurt.
REED's Heard the NAME "Jofre", but NEVER Seen him Fight...Can't RATE a Guy U Haven't Seen N Action... REED
The guy has an overall record of 72-2-4 with 50 kos. Only one guy ever beat him.......Fighting Harada, and that is the only reason I included him in my tourney. Harada beat Jofre on points twice. All four draws were avenged in return matches. And 8 years after losing his bantamweight crown to Harada....he came back from retirement, fought hard and often to earn a shot at Vincente Saldivar to win the featherweight world title. Great technician with good power, great conditioning, fantastic boxing skills and a granite chin. Brazil's National hero.......
Since no one has taken the "stab" that I expected,...allow me to give the first round winners IMO. Jofre over Caballero ------ Gomez over Bungu vs. vs. Harada over Zarate ------ Pacquaio over Fenech Barerra over De Leon----- Olivares over Pintor vs vs. Hamed over Raf. Marquez----- Morales over Vazquez
I wouldn't include Marquez, either, but at least he won a title. Wilfredo Vazquez should be included. He peaked quite high, say around destroying Jae Won Choi. Quite similar to what Rafael Marquez did at Bantam, although not as highly regarded. And if anyone plays boxrec warrior...That split decision win over Orlando Canizales was a clear win for Vazquez, as I remember.
Oh My GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe I forgot Orlando Canizales!!!!!!!!!!! Oh MY GOD AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! ........and Manuel Ortiz!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry REED Didn't Make it to Houston,Brother KARL... REED's Trip was Contingent Upon Charles Hatley Being N the FINALS,which Obviously NEVER Happened... Some Other Time,Dog... REED
