Well Gomez was quicker, and WAY more skilled, but at 126 I'd say that Lopez took a better shot, which might spell the differance. Lopez by brutal KO in a WAR!
Fascinating match-up... Gomez is so hard to judge. Did he do so "badly" at FWT because he wasn't nearly as dedicated/disciplined; or because those 4 lbs. really did make that much of a difference? When he finally DID succeed at those weights....he was past prime! There is a perception that Gomez was stopped or lost every time he went up beyond 122 lbs. against good or great fighters... And in Little Red Lopez, he is going up against a monster puncher. But he did beat LaPorte at 126 and "squeaked" by Lockridge (a very hard puncher) at 130...though by '85 he looked absolutely terrible. He was pretty 'past it.' But to me, the key thing to keep in mind is that the guys above 122 lbs. that stopped Gomez were fantastic boxers - Sanchez & Nelson (discounting Layne since Gomez was done by '86 and 130 lbs). Those guys were able to outbox, counter, and control a slower, heavier Gomez and thus eventually stop him. And that's what Lopez lacks in this match-up....taking a closer to prime Gomez who steps up to 126 lbs.; Wilfredo is the much better boxer and short/straight puncher. It's relatively well-known that Gomez didn't train for Sanchez seriously, if at all....he likely would have still lost, but would have been in a much more competitive fight. So - I think Gomez eventually wins the war. Peace.
My only problem with your breakdown is that you're now turning it into a P4P matchup, rather than judging it on what Gomez ACTUALLY accomplished outside of 122. I'm not sure the notable win exists at 122 that suggests Gomez handles Lopez' power long enough to last the distance, much less wind up ahead when all is said and done. Zarate is his most notable win (though not necessarily his best) and probably the biggest puncher he faced @ 122, but if we're discounting Gomez' loss to Sanchez based on ill-preparation, then you have to extend an arguably weight-drained Zarate the same courtesy. I see both hitting the deck, perhaps multiple times, but I;m with X in that when all is said and done, it's Gomez who gets got, somewhere in the late rounds.
I guess it sounds that way...but my intent wasn't so much to discount the loss to Sanchez; but to qualify it and say that his result vs. LaPorte at 126 and Lockridge at 130 (when Gomez was even more clearly past his best in both physical condition and discipline) suggest that he "should" have done better at 126 vs. Sanchez given he was younger, fresher and closer to prime (though I still think he loses)...had he been better prepared. I may not have explained the rationale well. :doh: :dunno: And maybe it is a bit of a PxP supposition. I guess I will stay with what he actually DID do - and say he still retained enough boxing ability, quickness and saavy vs. Lopez to eventually stop him. Gomez could always use those legs when he wanted to - and I think his jab and short quick heavy shots inside would have given Danny all sorts of trouble. But it's a bit of a flip of the coin. Peace.
I would have to go with Gomez. He is simply just the better fighter with better skills. I also believe that if he rematched Sanchez and came in at his best , the fight would have been close. For some reason whenever I watch Gomez/Sanchez , I always get the feeling that Gomez really was just having a bad day.:dunno:
