Trying to expand my boxing knowledge...

[Marcov]

Gomez is my #1.

One fight that never gets mentioned and would not make this list is Wilfredo Vazquez. He wasn't unbeatable but he won some big fights and if he was fighting today he would be a star. I also enjoyed the career of Edwin Rosario.

[TintaBoricua]

There is no dis*****g that Trinidad was one of the most exciting fighters to watch, but it'd be shame to dismiss Gómez as he was probably just as exciting, if not more in those times.

My father always says that if Gómez had been fighting today (with all the countdown shows, 24/7s, etc.), Gómez would've been an enormous star.

His 32 STRAIGHT knockouts, and over 20 title defenses at 122 (all by knockout) alone gives him some sort of claim to fame. That record has yet to be shattered (the long string of knockouts in the title defenses).

I watched Gómez's career set and he rarely went the distance. His knockout ratio was an impressive 88% (if you take losses and the draw into account).

Benítez on skill aone sets up a lot of "what ifs" because he was just that talented. Youngest champion ever, "The Radar" was given that nickname because he had an uncanny ability to slip punches effortlessly. Sugar Ray Leonard in an interview once said that he had never missed so many punches in a fight than when he fought Wilfred Benítez. I think that was on Ringside: Sugar Ray Leonard (on espn classic).

He lost eight times and was stopped in four, however one of them was because of an ankle he messed up during a fight and another was in the final round against Ray Leonard. In my opinion, the stoppage was a bit premature and the champion should've been given the benefit of the doubt but no shame in losing to an undefeated Sugar Ray Leonard. He also lost a MD to an undefeated Hearns, which is also impressive. His win over Durán came when Durán only had two losses. The fact that he tangled with three of the four great fighters in the 80's merits a lot of acclaim. His skill, coupled with his results against these fighters means that, to me, he edges Gómez and Trinidad.

But by no means is Gómez or Trinidad bad fighters. They are all great. I just think Benítez has an edge.

As for Carlos Ortiz, I took a look at his record. There was a period there in his career where he fought a string of fighters with high wins and very few losses. Interesting to note that he fought Flash Ellorde twice (the Filipino) and knocked him out twice, both in the fourteenth round.

He lost seven times, only once by stoppage at the end of his seventeen-year career where he retired on his stool against Ken Buchanan (yes, THAT Ken Buchanan).

But this is what's interesting, five of his seven losses were either by majority decision or split decision.

He was only clearly outpointed once in the final fight of a trilogy with Duilio Loi (104-2-7).

Carlos Ortiz was a solid fighter, no doubt.

[fitefanSHO]

I gotta go with either Wilfredo Benitez or Esteban DeJusus

Both guys were good enough to beat ATG Roberto Duran.

That's enough for me.

[StarshipTrooper]

I've always considered the 1980s as having the Fab-FIVE with Benitez included in that mix. Benitez and Ortiz are clear ATG fighters in my book (though I really to need to make it a point to watch more of Ortiz if I can find the fights). To my mind, Trinidad and Gomez are borderline ATGs at best, near greats at worst. It just seems to me there's a big gap between Benitez and Ortiz on one hand, and Trinidad and Gomez on the other. Gomez is one of my favortite fighters to watch btw.....I don't think I've ever seen him in a stinker.

Poet

[jrosales13]

El campeon de Cupey Alto. Is my favorite of all time. In my heart he's the GOAT

[TintaBoricua]

I've always considered the 1980s as having the Fab-FIVE with Benitez included in that mix. Benitez and Ortiz are clear ATG fighters in my book (though I really to need to make it a point to watch more of Ortiz if I can find the fights). To my mind, Trinidad and Gomez are borderline ATGs at best, near greats at worst. It just seems to me there's a big gap between Benitez and Ortiz on one hand, and Trinidad and Gomez on the other. Gomez is one of my favortite fighters to watch btw.....I don't think I've ever seen him in a stinker.

Poet

I honestly can't see Trinidad being on par with those two, at least resumé-wise.

I have to give it to Tito, though. He was as tough and as strong as they come. He could get knocked down, but I don't think I've ever seen Trinidad being wobbled longer than five or ten seconds. His recuperative powers were amazing to behold. The worst thing you could do is knock him down, he'd just get right back up and improve his fighting. The only moment I can recall where Tito was legitimately stunned (the kind of state where he looks like he's seen a ghost) was when Hopkins knocked him down.

He got to his feet almost at the count of 10 but he was going to be knocked out by Hopkins had his dad not stepped in.

Again, Trinidad could be hurt, but he was ferocious and had such a hard chin and so much heart that he could stabilize himself quickly.

[StarshipTrooper]

I honestly can't see Trinidad being on par with those two, at least resumé-wise.

I have to give it to Tito, though. He was as tough and as strong as they come. He could get knocked down, but I don't think I've ever seen Trinidad being wobbled longer than five or ten seconds. His recuperative powers were amazing to behold. The worst thing you could do is knock him down, he'd just get right back up and improve his fighting. The only moment I can recall where Tito was legitimately stunned (the kind of state where he looks like he's seen a ghost) was when Hopkins knocked him down.

He got to his feet almost at the count of 10 but he was going to be knocked out by Hopkins had his dad not stepped in.

Again, Trinidad could be hurt, but he was ferocious and had such a hard chin and so much heart that he could stabilize himself quickly.

Tito's two biggest problems were that he was one dimensional offensively (a lot of big punchers are) and he was too damned easy to hit. Those things really cost him against Hopkins and if not for idiotic judging would have cost him against De La Hoya.

Poet

[Steak]

Trinidad didnt do a large varity of things, but what he did do worked like hell. he murdered people with that left hook, and his right hand was nothing to scoff at either. His style was interesting too because he put on a lot of pressure, and yet had a low work rate.

The number of times he went down and got back up to win amazes me when I think about it. lets see...Cortes, Stephans, Campas, Carr, Lueshing, Reid, Vargas, Mayorga...am I missing anyone? the guy sure was fun to watch.
EDIT: I remeber hearing that he was down 7 times in his career prior to fighting Troy Waters so...Yeah, I must be missing someone.


I think I might go over Ortiz's career in detail in the near future, its a shame that such a great fighter gets overlooked so often. I guess thats bound to happen when two of Puerto Ricos greats were dynamite punchers and Benitez was the youngest ever world champ and a defensive master...

[StarshipTrooper]

I think I might go over Ortiz's career in detail in the near future, its a shame that such a great fighter gets overlooked so often.

Please do! I haven't watched nearly enough of Ortiz to get a really good grasp of his abilities.

Poet

[IronDanHamza]

Please do! I haven't watched nearly enough of Ortiz to get a really good grasp of his abilities.

Poet

Carlos Ortiz is a great great fighter.

I have looked over his career in more detail before. He fought ALOT of Top competition and his LW reign is truley exceptional.