[084]

So, was just looking through this last weeks Boxing News and when i got to the flashback section i noticed a little bit on Pedroza's fight with McGuigan. One reader wrote a letter which goes a little something like this ''Twenty Defences looks good on paper buti wonder how many defences he would of made had he met comtemporaries such as Danny Lopez, Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez and Azumah Nelson''

Would you agree this as a fair statement, why didn't he face any of these and if he did how would he of got on in them. One thing for sure a great time for Featherweights.

 

[Michael]

He'd beat Lopez and lose to the rest IMO.

 

[Flea Man]

He'd batter Gomez, who was nowhere near as good a feather.

Few fights of his on my channel now. Watch him against Ford and how easily he dealt with him compared to Sanchez.

The reader conveniently omits the fact he faced Lockridge x2, Lujan, both former or future champions still at a very good stage of their careers.

Lopez has a punchers chance against anyone of course.

 

[Flea Man]

People seem to skim over Sanchez's close fights as well. He looked clueless in the early going against Castillo, was troubled by Cowdell and Ford, and had to score a come from behind K.O against an inexperienced, but admittedly still very good if less nuanced, Nelson.

People seem to think he was as good as he was against Little Red and Gomez all the time and it's bollocks.

 

[Vic]

Being a while since I watched his fights for the last time.....I remember pretty well of his great uppercuts, and obviously his dirty tricks haha....

 

[GazOC]

As Flea says, Gomez was a great fighter but that extra 4lbs was like night and day to him. Also not sure about Nelson from a timing point of view, depends which versions you match. When Nelson lost to Sanchez I'm not sure he would have been quite ready for Pedroza either...tough call though.

 

[ThinBlack]

So, was just looking through this last weeks Boxing News and when i got to the flashback section i noticed a little bit on Pedroza's fight with McGuigan. One reader wrote a letter which goes a little something like this ''Twenty Defences looks good on paper buti wonder how many defences he would of made had he met comtemporaries such as Danny Lopez, Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez and Azumah Nelson''

Would you agree this as a fair statement, why didn't he face any of these and if he did how would he of got on in them. One thing for sure a great time for Featherweights.

Definitely not his fault concerning Sanchez, as politics, and probably Salvador possibly having reservations facing him.

 

[zadfrak]

Man. that Pedroza was a tough piece of leather though. And he'd do anything in there to win. Real dirty fighter. And with him, it was the planned foul thing with a follow up combo behind it. Or a thumb followed by a body shot. There were some matches I wanted to see him in but they never did transpire. And Pedroza was not a nmae you heard thrown around when opposing managers were asked what next for their fighters. And everyone knew it was probably going the distance fighting the guy. A fight w/ a Pedroza is worth about 10 fights off a guy's career because of the 45 minutes of punishment and top conditioning required to fight him. Obviously an A effort or like McGuigan, a career best performance is required.

Far far easier to take another path. How he lasted as long as he did at the top was a testiment to the guy as well. Lots of those lower weight guys have like a 6 or 10 fight window of supremacy. Then, they sure do go downhill quick once the deterioration of reflexes sets in. This guy fought on and on and put in a lot of championship rounds.

 

[Duo]

It wasn't Pedroza's fault that a unification with Sanchez never took place, or that Danny Lopez brought the WBC version of the FW Title front and center in the English speaking world. Sal stayed parked in the States while Eusebio went to Japan, Venezuela, London, and into hostile territory for Lockridge I, Bernard Taylor, and finally McGuigan. His final successful title defense was over Zamora's conqueror for the WBA FW crown. (The never stopped Lujan is one of those real tough bastards who gets overlooked from that era. Could Zarate or Gomez have taken out Jorge? Not always an exciting performer, but one with good skills and excellent stamina, combined with decent power.)

Pedroza did take a rematch over Lockridge in neutral Italy. Seven title wins over fellow champions. Successfully defended his title in eight consecutive calendar years. Four defenses each in '79, '80 and '81. He was defending at a clip which matched Sal's own before Chava got himself killed. But to defend against Rock-a-Bye Ruben in 1979, then Mocha Lujan to to conclude his series of title retentions in 1985 shows good longevity at a high level. 268 title fight rounds stops him just short of Ali's career total of 270, but 249 of El Alacran's title rounds were in winning efforts, just a single round less than Griffith's 250 rounds in title fight wins.

 

[Flea Man]

If you look at the styles that gave Sanchez issues it's moronic to assume that Pedroza wouldn't have given him lots and lots of trouble.

It's whether you think Cowdell or Castillo have better jabs or dictate range better than Pedroza. I would say they don't.

 

[Sweet Pea]

I think he was capable of beating any of them. He'd likely have picked up a loss or two here or there, but so would any of the others facing that kind of opposition consistently. I think he was in the same class as any of them. Sanchez and Nelson included. He'd have likely dealt with both Gomez and Lopez soundly.

 

[Flea Man]

I think he was capable of beating any of them. He'd likely have picked up a loss or two here or there, but so would any of the others facing that kind of opposition consistently. I think he was in the same class as any of them. Sanchez and Nelson included. He'd have likely dealt with both Gomez and Lopez soundly.

Pedroza Vs Marcel?

 

[Sweet Pea]

Pedroza Vs Marcel?

I've thought about it. Don't really have any strong opinion. Some of the same main strengths on both. Some of the best right hand leads ever. Laguna, too. Something about those Panamanians.

You?

 

[Flea Man]

I've thought about it. Don't really have any strong opinion. Some of the same main strengths on both. Some of the best right hand leads ever. Laguna, too. Something about those Panamanians.

You?

15th round would be mega. I'll take Marcel as I've seen him against superior technicians. No reason to think Pedroza couldn't hold his own though just going on what I have.

Laguna the greatest.

 

[Powerpuncher]

He was a beast, I'm not a fan of his hometown fouling but I think out of those, only Sanchez beats him.

 

[Flea Man]

He was a beast, I'm not a fan of his hometown fouling but I think out of those, only Sanchez beats him.

Why Sanchez? Surely Pedroza is the kinda stylist Sanchez struggled against?