Ricardo Lopez v Humberto Gonzalez in Febuary 1994

[McGrain]

If this fight had come of in '94 instead of the Carbajal rematch, what sort of chance would Gonzalez have at light flyweight?

Would the lessons Gonzalez learned in the Carbajal loss have been enough to bring Humberto a win against Lopez?

[Mendoza]

If this fight had come of in '94 instead of the Carbajal rematch, what sort of chance would Gonzalez have at light flyweight?

Would the lessons Gonzalez learned in the Carbajal loss have been enough to bring Humberto a win against Lopez?

These are my two favorite modern lower weight fighters! Gonzalez was short, but a real warrior and pound for pound type of puncher. Gonzalez vs Carbajal was a great match!

Lopez was the best flyweight I've ever seen in the modern era. Lopez was tall, technical, and could hit hard with either hand. Some of Lopez's KO would make Mike Tyson nod.

This is a modern day hall of fame fantasy match up. I think Lopez was too technical and rangy for Humberto Gonzalez, and would likely win a decision at light flyweight.

Its shame boxing does not give more attention to its best lower weight fighters who come to fight.

[mr. magoo]

Its shame boxing does not give more attention to its best lower weight fighters who come to fight.


I agree,

Chiquita Gonzalez got my attention back in the early to mid 90's when he had his fights with Michael Carbajal. The first fight was an unbelievable fight, and probably one of the best of the decade. Both men were down, hurt, wobbled, etc. Carbajal won by TKO around the mid rounds I believe. I would love to watch that fight again, as I haven't seen it in so many years. Both Carbajal and Gonzalez seem to be two forgotten men in boxing. Its sad that we are all too familiar with fighters like Tim Witherspoon, Greg Page, Pinkon Thomas, etc, yet we forget or fail to discuss guys like Carbajal and Gonzalez who were much better p4p.

[McGrain]

These are my two favorite modern lower weight fighters! Gonzalez was short, but a real warrior and pound for pound type of puncher. Gonzalez vs Carbajal was a great match!

Lopez was the best flyweight I've ever seen in the modern era. Lopez was tall, technical, and could hit hard with either hand. Some of Lopez's KO would make Mike Tyson nod.

This is a modern day hall of fame fantasy match up. I think Lopez was too technical and rangy for Humberto Gonzalez, and would likely win a decision at light flyweight.

Its shame boxing does not give more attention to its best lower weight fighters who come to fight.


Good post.

I also lean towards Lopez, but I do think that Gonzalez the that night in Febuary would have had a very serious chance to score an upset. It's like Carbajal turned him into a complete fighter, if you see what I mean.

[McGrain]

Both Carbajal and Gonzalez seem to be two forgotten men in boxing. Its sad that we are all too familiar with fighters like Tim Witherspoon, Greg Page, Pinkon Thomas, etc, yet we forget or fail to discuss guys like Carbajal and Gonzalez who were much better p4p.

Agreed, and they fought that great trilogy.

The 93 fight is on YouTube Magoo, you should check it out. Post the link if you track it down.

[apollack]

Would have been a great fight. I think the difference would have been defense and chin. Lopez had the better defense and chin, and had enough pop in his punch that I see him wearing down Humberto. But then, if he could have done it, why didn't he? As great a fighter Lopez was, it always bothered me that he didn't move up a measly 3 pounds when Carbajal and Gonzalez were making millions in mega fights. He should have joined that party.

[mr. magoo]

Agreed, and they fought that great trilogy.

The 93 fight is on YouTube Magoo, you should check it out. Post the link if you track it down.

As a matter of fact, I just did a few minutes ago. This thread got me thinking about it. The fight was posted on youtube in mulitple parts like rounds 1-2, 3-4, etc. Still, I'd like to sit through it when I find the time. Great fight to say the least.

[Mendoza]

Would have been a great fight. I think the difference would have been defense and chin. Lopez had the better defense and chin, and had enough pop in his punch that I see him wearing down Humberto. But then, if he could have done it, why didn't he? As great a fighter Lopez was, it always bothered me that he didn't move up a measly 3 pounds when Carbajal and Gonzalez were making millions in mega fights. He should have joined that party.

True. In Lopez's defense he destroyed Saman Sorjaturong in two rounds, and the same Sorjaturong KO'd Gonzalez.

Lopez was not afraid to go to Asia and fight in Korea, Japan, or Thailand, which have historically been extremely unfair to visiting fighters. However, Lopez either knocked them out, or won by rounds by too huge of a margin to be robbed on the cards.

Here are a few of Lopez fights. Don't worry they don't take too long to watch. Foucs on his coolness, footwork, technique and power.

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[McGrain]

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Timely reminders. I think i've been underating Lopez as a composite puncher. I know what you mean about "coolness". Even if after he hurts Park he refuses to be rushed, taking his time.

He can measure his man withot measuring him, if you see what I mean. Ready to comimit to great violence whilst he looks like he's still warming up.

My favourite thing about Lopez is his seeming ability to commit without over-extending.

A great, great fighter.

[Drew101]

Lopez by stoppage in the ninth.

[McGrain]

Lopez by stoppage in the ninth.

Precise!

[Raging B(_)LL]

Lopez wins this by knockout, and I do mean a ten count KO not TKO. Chiquita was a fine fighter but his chin was always a liability, and Lopez was more than capable enough of reaching it and cracking it wide open.

Lopez KO8 Gonzalez

[Russell]

True. In Lopez's defense he destroyed Saman Sorjaturong in two rounds, and the same Sorjaturong KO'd Gonzalez.

Lopez was not afraid to go to Asia and fight in Korea, Japan, or Thailand, which have historically been extremely unfair to visiting fighters. However, Lopez either knocked them out, or won by rounds by too huge of a margin to be robbed on the cards.

Here are a few of Lopez fights. Don't worry they don't take too long to watch. Foucs on his coolness, footwork, technique and power.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

A good point, and one that I was going to bring up.

Sorjaturong was a great fighter, and had an unbelievable run after being Gonzalez.

Pretty amazing to blow him out in two like that.

[Drew101]

Precise!

And now, for the precise reason, which essentially is the same reason that RB gave. Chiquita's chin was something of a liability, and in this match-up he's facing a guy who matches him in terms of skill-set (quite probably exceeds him, to be honest), and who possessed greater recuperative powers when hurt. It might take Finito some time to figure out Chiquita, and I suspect the fight would be close through eight...but eventually, Finito finds a way to lower his opponent's guard, and closes out the show with some typically precise power-punching.

[Sweet Pea]

Lopez was fantastic. The most fundamentally sound, textbook perfect boxer I've ever seen.

[brownpimp88]

Lopez was fantastic. The most fundamentally sound, textbook perfect boxer I've ever seen.
would you pick him to beat carbajal and arbachov?

[Mantequilla]

A good point, and one that I was going to bring up.

Sorjaturong was a great fighter, and had an unbelievable run after being Gonzalez.

Pretty amazing to blow him out in two like that.
Saman was a limited fighter with little going for him other than a huge right-hand.He fought mostly cans as champion and looked continually mediocre.

Lopez win was impressive, but not against a great fighter by any means.

[McGrain]

Saman was a limited fighter with little going for him other than a huge right-hand.He fought mostly cans as champion and looked continually mediocre.

Lopez win was impressive, but not against a great fighter by any means.

Interesting.

But i'm not sure where you stand after this post. How highly do you rate Lopez?

[Mantequilla]

I think he was an excellent fighter in terms of technical skill.

The problem is he mostly fought very poor competition so it can be difficult to judge just how good he really was.

He isn't alone in having this problem among the lighter weight fighters by any means, but does seem to get more of a pass than most.

[Drew101]

I think he was an excellent fighter in terms of technical skill.

The problem is he mostly fought very poor competition so it can be difficult to judge just how good he really was.

He isn't alone in having this problem among the lighter weight fighters by any means, but does seem to get more of a pass than most.

We've had this discussion before, but I don't think that Lopez's competition was as horrid as some would have you belive. Alvarez at his best was a damned fine fighter, who I think stays with pretty much any junior flyweight in history. Will Grigsby wasn't at all bad...and neither was Zolani Potelo. Rocky Lin and Ala Villamor were decent enough contenders and they were both obliterated. Ditto Alex "Nene" Sanchez.

Was his competition great? Not by any stretch of the imagination...but, by and large the best fighters that he faced (outside of Alvarez) were handled just as conclusively as the also-rans.

[zadfrak]

I wanted to see this bout transpire as well. I think at that point Gonzalez was definately on the other side of the mountain and that's a real real tall task to beat a guy like Lopez.

I think Lopez takes the guy apart in there. That's probably my personal favorite boxing result---watch a champion take a high caliber fighter apart systematically for like 7 to 9 rounds.

Lopez throws every punch in the book and even had a picture perfect left uppercut, which hardly anyone has in recent times. I think that is a punch that the Gonzalez defense is going to have a tough time with. It's a nasty punch and he didn't throw often so opponents never got a bead on it. I think Lopez puts on a clinic and stops the old warrior who takes a real drubbing in there.

[Mantequilla]

We've had this discussion before, but I don't think that Lopez's competition was as horrid as some would have you belive. Alvarez at his best was a damned fine fighter, who I think stays with pretty much any junior flyweight in history. Will Grigsby wasn't at all bad...and neither was Zolani Potelo. Rocky Lin and Ala Villamor were decent enough contenders and they were both obliterated. Ditto Alex "Nene" Sanchez.

Was his competition great? Not by any stretch of the imagination...but, by and large the best fighters that he faced (outside of Alvarez) were handled just as conclusively as the also-rans.


Yeah, it's true he could hardly have been more convincing in defeating them.Can't fault him there at all.

That is one area where he has it over other talented fighters like Watanabe, Galaxy, Canizales and others.

Those men sometimes managed to struggle with mediocre fighters or turned in the odd poor performance.Lopez was very very dedicated.