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Gonzalez and Carbajal were much bigger names than Lopez at the time, and so that was the rivalry that really got pushed, with great results of course. Lopez just never reached that level of popularity, and that was maybe as much due to not having a great rival.
It was also largely the timing too. Carbajal and Gonzalez were hugely popular and very big names at the end of the 80s/start of the 90s and had ended their great careers when Lopez was still only a few years into his ten year championship reign. Lopez really wasn't a name fighter or even on the radar, apart from boxing insiders, until after those two had already retired which was a pity. Maybe if he'd been a bigger name, there would have been more pressure to move up and get those fights done.
It's unfortunate because it could have really added another chapter to that great story, a bit like if Chang had come along a little later too and fought when he was still in his prime. Would have undoubtedly been the greatest flyweight foursome ever. Never would have been matched if those guys had all fought.
Lopez just stayed at 105 for too long. It would have been great to see him move up and get into the action much earlier, but he was still in his the early stages of his first reign when they were at the height, then end, of their careers.
As for the fight, I think Lopez would take it reasonably clearly. I think a Gonzalez fight would have been much harder and I'm not too sure he could have won that one. Actually, I think Gonzalez has become by far the most underrated one. He's the best L. flyweight out of all of them and undoubtedly one of the best to ever fight around Flyweight. Better resume than all the others too. I find it interesting that Carbajal often gets mentioned above Gonzalez as Gonzalez clearly had the more successful career, with two wins, and better wins overall.
It was also largely the timing too. Carbajal and Gonzalez were hugely popular and very big names at the end of the 80s/start of the 90s and had ended their great careers when Lopez was still only a few years into his ten year championship reign. Lopez really wasn't a name fighter or even on the radar, apart from boxing insiders, until after those two had already retired which was a pity. Maybe if he'd been a bigger name, there would have been more pressure to move up and get those fights done.
It's unfortunate because it could have really added another chapter to that great story, a bit like if Chang had come along a little later too and fought when he was still in his prime. Would have undoubtedly been the greatest flyweight foursome ever. Never would have been matched if those guys had all fought.
Lopez just stayed at 105 for too long. It would have been great to see him move up and get into the action much earlier, but he was still in his the early stages of his first reign when they were at the height, then end, of their careers.
As for the fight, I think Lopez would take it reasonably clearly. I think a Gonzalez fight would have been much harder and I'm not too sure he could have won that one. Actually, I think Gonzalez has become by far the most underrated one. He's the best L. flyweight out of all of them and undoubtedly one of the best to ever fight around Flyweight. Better resume than all the others too. I find it interesting that Carbajal often gets mentioned above Gonzalez as Gonzalez clearly had the more successful career, with two wins, and better wins overall.
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