Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight

My2Sense · 09-25-2009, 09:34 PM

Here's Napoles' 2nd fight with lightweight contender Alfredo Urbina.

Thanks to Raging B(_)LL for this footage:

This was one of Napoles' biggest and best wins on the way up. Urbina had recorded a win over him only the year before, but Napoles made him pay for it big time. This is by far the most fiery and intense performance I've ever seen from him.

This may actually have been Napoles' peak right here. By the end of the year (after blowing out Urbina a second time) he had moved up to jr. welter and was rated as the #1 contender there, and would remain so for at least a year-and-a-half. For some reason, he never did get a shot at the title. Somehow, the next shot went to Carlos Hernandez, who Napoles had recently beaten, and he ended up winning the title (from Eddie Perkins). Hernandez made a couple of defenses and then lost to Sandro Lopopolo - all the while Napoles was still the #1 contender. Does anyone know the story of why Napoles didn't get a shot?

red cobra · 09-25-2009, 10:18 PM

My guess is that they were all scared shitless of Mantequilla...and you really can't blame them...oh man, he was unreal as a lightweight...nobody had the balls at that time, until poor Curtis Cokes finally gave him a shot at the welter crown in '69. Interesting footage also because it's before Jose grew that bandito mustache.

Wu-Gambino · 09-25-2009, 11:07 PM

Maybe it's just me but the film looks a little sped up.. could just be the speed of the fighters though...

My2Sense · 09-25-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wu-Gambino

Maybe it's just me but the film looks a little sped up.. could just be the speed of the fighters though...

It looks like it's a bit inconsistent with the speed - it speeds up at moments, and then it's normal at moments.

PowerPuncher · 09-25-2009, 11:27 PM

Naploes would have surely owned the 60s lightweight and light welter scene if he got his shot. I just cant see Ortiz/Laguana/Loche beating him despite their talents

My2Sense · 09-25-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerPuncher

Naploes would have surely owned the 60s lightweight and light welter scene if he got his shot. I just cant see Ortiz/Laguana/Loche beating him despite their talents

As it is, he decisively beat successive champions, Eddie Perkins and Carlos Hernandez, right around the time they held their titles. Napoles was the #1 contender through both their reigns. It really is a strange situation.

TheGreatA · 09-26-2009, 07:21 AM

I did read a newspaper article in which Nicolino Locche claimed he wanted a fight with Napoles but that must have been at a later stage in their careers.

Napoles looks great here, thanks to My2Sense and Raging B(_)LL for making this footage available!

AlFrancis · 09-26-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My2Sense

Here's Napoles' 2nd fight with lightweight contender Alfredo Urbina.

Thanks to Raging B(_)LL for this footage:

This was one of Napoles' biggest and best wins on the way up. Urbina had recorded a win over him only the year before, but Napoles made him pay for it big time. This is by far the most fiery and intense performance I've ever seen from him.

This may actually have been Napoles' peak right here. By the end of the year (after blowing out Urbina a second time) he had moved up to jr. welter and was rated as the #1 contender there, and would remain so for at least a year-and-a-half. For some reason, he never did get a shot at the title. Somehow, the next shot went to Carlos Hernandez, who Napoles had recently beaten, and he ended up winning the title (from Eddie Perkins). Hernandez made a couple of defenses and then lost to Sandro Lopopolo - all the while Napoles was still the #1 contender. Does anyone know the story of why Napoles didn't get a shot?

Looks goood there doesnt he?
I'm thinking maybe he didn't get his shot due to not having the right connections. Seems to me it all started happening for him when he started fighting in LA with George Parnassus promoting him. Parnassus had a bt of clout at the time. He was promoting or helping the likes of Rose, Olivares, even Harada. It was a golden period for the Inglewood forum

GPater11093 · 09-26-2009, 08:34 AM

saving this to watch after the FFN repeat

thanks for this

bum of the week · 09-26-2009, 10:33 AM

Wow that was impressive!
Great bolos and uppercuts and very smooyh movement.
Can't shed any light to why he didn't get a shot at the lw. or jr.ww. titles.
I'll look into my Ring collection to see if a can find anything about it, though The Ring didn't write too much about hispanic fighters in those days.
The most amazing thing is that he had such a long and good reign as a champ while being over his best weight and a bit past his prime.

he grant · 09-26-2009, 12:36 PM

Napoles only moved up because he could not get his shot at 135. Even Duran's management wanted no part of him .. He was that good.

red cobra · 09-26-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by he grant

Napoles only moved up because he could not get his shot at 135. Even Duran's management wanted no part of him .. He was that good.

Napoles would have been like DeJesus on steroids for Duran.

GPater11093 · 09-26-2009, 02:05 PM

wow

thats amazing

Napoles was so smooth there did Urbina even land on Napoles.

Napole was so measured he hardly missed even with uppercuts andbolos just everything perfect.

Loved the subtle feet movement that we didnt see alot of at Welterweight.

That reminded me of Wilfredo Gomez in how smooth he was in attack

Sweet Pea · 09-26-2009, 02:06 PM

One of the very best fighters of all time.

Sweet Pea · 09-26-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPater11093

Loved the subtle feet movement that we didnt see alot of at Welterweight.

That was always one of the best parts of his game.

09-25-2009, 09:34 PM	#1
My2Sense Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,568 vCash: 1000	Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight Here's Napoles' 2nd fight with lightweight contender Alfredo Urbina. Thanks to Raging B(_)LL for this footage: This was one of Napoles' biggest and best wins on the way up. Urbina had recorded a win over him only the year before, but Napoles made him pay for it big time. This is by far the most fiery and intense performance I've ever seen from him. This may actually have been Napoles' peak right here. By the end of the year (after blowing out Urbina a second time) he had moved up to jr. welter and was rated as the #1 contender there, and would remain so for at least a year-and-a-half. For some reason, he never did get a shot at the title. Somehow, the next shot went to Carlos Hernandez, who Napoles had recently beaten, and he ended up winning the title (from Eddie Perkins). Hernandez made a couple of defenses and then lost to Sandro Lopopolo - all the while Napoles was still the #1 contender. Does anyone know the story of why Napoles didn't get a shot?
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09-25-2009, 10:18 PM	#2
red cobra P4P King East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Sea of Tranquility Posts: 22,206 vCash: 1000	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight My guess is that they were all scared shitless of Mantequilla...and you really can't blame them...oh man, he was unreal as a lightweight...nobody had the balls at that time, until poor Curtis Cokes finally gave him a shot at the welter crown in '69. Interesting footage also because it's before Jose grew that bandito mustache.
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09-25-2009, 11:07 PM	#3
Wu-Gambino ESB Swordsman ESB Full Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Slums of Shaolin Posts: 375 vCash: 1000	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight Maybe it's just me but the film looks a little sped up.. could just be the speed of the fighters though...
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09-25-2009, 11:27 PM	#5
PowerPuncher ESB Junkie East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 30,740 vCash: 1000	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight Naploes would have surely owned the 60s lightweight and light welter scene if he got his shot. I just cant see Ortiz/Laguana/Loche beating him despite their talents
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09-26-2009, 07:21 AM	#7
TheGreatA Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 7,116 vCash: 1000	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight I did read a newspaper article in which Nicolino Locche claimed he wanted a fight with Napoles but that must have been at a later stage in their careers. Napoles looks great here, thanks to My2Sense and Raging B(_)LL for making this footage available!
Top

09-26-2009, 08:34 AM	#9
GPater11093 Barry East Side VIP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 26,118 vCash: 836	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight saving this to watch after the FFN repeat thanks for this
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09-26-2009, 10:33 AM	#10
bum of the week Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 66 vCash: 1000	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight Wow that was impressive! Great bolos and uppercuts and very smooyh movement. Can't shed any light to why he didn't get a shot at the lw. or jr.ww. titles. I'll look into my Ring collection to see if a can find anything about it, though The Ring didn't write too much about hispanic fighters in those days. The most amazing thing is that he had such a long and good reign as a champ while being over his best weight and a bit past his prime.
Top

09-26-2009, 12:36 PM	#11
he grant Historian/Film Maker East Side Guru Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 6,476 vCash: 1000	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight Napoles only moved up because he could not get his shot at 135. Even Duran's management wanted no part of him .. He was that good.
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09-26-2009, 02:05 PM	#13
GPater11093 Barry East Side VIP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 26,118 vCash: 836	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight wow thats amazing Napoles was so smooth there did Urbina even land on Napoles. Napole was so measured he hardly missed even with uppercuts andbolos just everything perfect. Loved the subtle feet movement that we didnt see alot of at Welterweight. That reminded me of Wilfredo Gomez in how smooth he was in attack
Top

09-26-2009, 02:06 PM	#14
Sweet Pea P4P King East Side VIP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: I never sleep, cuz sleep is the cousin of death Posts: 16,432 vCash: 1000	Re: Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight One of the very best fighters of all time.
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