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Posted by Jim Amato
Who is the greatest 122-pound fighter off all time? This one is a no brainer. The answer is the incomparable Wilfredo Gomez. His accomplishments at this weight are truly awesome. He was the complete package of speed, coordination, balance and power. The Puerto Rican had it all. Other than a tendency to swell around the eyes, he truly was an almost flawless fighter in his prime.
The crowning achievements of his career was probably his knockout of bantamweight champion, Lupe Pintor. Lupe had won the bantamweight crown from Zarate via a very controversial decision. Pintor would establish himself as a fine champion. In moving up to challenge Gomez, Lupe fought the fight of his life. Wilfredo would prevail, but those who saw the fight will never forget it.
Gomez in turn would suffer the same fate as Zarate and Pintor when he tried unsuccessfully to move up and win the featherweight title. His match with champion Salvador Sanchez was a much anticipated super fight with Gomez given a good chance to win. In a true shocker Sanchez gave Wilfredo a one sided beating.
Gomez would eventually win the featherweight championship after Salvador’s untimely death. He was matched with fellow countryman Juan La Porte for the vacant title. Wilfredo pitched a near shutout to capture the crown. An aging Gomez would lose the title to the great Azumah Nelson. Unbelievably he would move up to 130 pounds and win that title from Rocky Lockridge by a decision more debatable than the Pintor-Zarate verdict. Wilfredo would lose that title to the forgettable Alfredo Layne.
Although Gomez can claim to be a champion in three different weight divisions, it was his dominance at 122 that will be remembered the most.
Who is the greatest 122-pound fighter off all time? This one is a no brainer. The answer is the incomparable Wilfredo Gomez. His accomplishments at this weight are truly awesome. He was the complete package of speed, coordination, balance and power. The Puerto Rican had it all. Other than a tendency to swell around the eyes, he truly was an almost flawless fighter in his prime.
The crowning achievements of his career was probably his knockout of bantamweight champion, Lupe Pintor. Lupe had won the bantamweight crown from Zarate via a very controversial decision. Pintor would establish himself as a fine champion. In moving up to challenge Gomez, Lupe fought the fight of his life. Wilfredo would prevail, but those who saw the fight will never forget it.
Gomez in turn would suffer the same fate as Zarate and Pintor when he tried unsuccessfully to move up and win the featherweight title. His match with champion Salvador Sanchez was a much anticipated super fight with Gomez given a good chance to win. In a true shocker Sanchez gave Wilfredo a one sided beating.
Gomez would eventually win the featherweight championship after Salvador’s untimely death. He was matched with fellow countryman Juan La Porte for the vacant title. Wilfredo pitched a near shutout to capture the crown. An aging Gomez would lose the title to the great Azumah Nelson. Unbelievably he would move up to 130 pounds and win that title from Rocky Lockridge by a decision more debatable than the Pintor-Zarate verdict. Wilfredo would lose that title to the forgettable Alfredo Layne.
Although Gomez can claim to be a champion in three different weight divisions, it was his dominance at 122 that will be remembered the most.
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