Not as simple as this one might look, Napoles was great with his skills at welter while Iran had a middles strength, a big right hand, and he knew how to box when he needed too. Another factor is while Mantequilla would box rings around Iran at times he wasn't a mover and didn't have the greyhound legs to stay away once got Barkley got a load of steam behind him. Jose would slip most of what was thrown his way while landing his own but Iran wouldn't be hurt or frustrated. In a tight 12 rounder Napoles survives being hurt and maybe dropped for the decision.
Whew... Napoles is by far the greater fighter...In looking at Napoles' challenge of Monzon, he positioned himself as the aggressor, pushing the fight, looking to counter Monzon's counters. For awhile Napoles did very well...I believe Angelo Dundee when he said Napoles was thumbed in that fight...although it would not have changed the outcome. Monzon was too much for him. If Duran could hurt Barkley...it makes you wonder if Napoles could not do the same. In comparing Duran's fight against Barkley to this hypothetical, I think Duran's versatility of being able to box off the back foot and counter helped him to avoid Barkley at key times when he was in trouble...Napoles as great as he is, never attempted to box his larger opponent when going for the middleweight title. Stylistically however, Napoles generally excelled by slipping and taking away an opponent's jab, and countering...effectively taking away an opponent's offense...Curtics Cokes became very tentative about jabbing. Napoles is the greater fighter at any range you care to mention, and would find a way to score inside of Barkley's punches...Iran throws, Napoles slips and counters...The trouble is...when Barkley lands the bomb can Jose survive it?
Barkley. Napoles was not a big welter. If Kalambay couldn't hurt Barkley by slipping and countering with accurate right uppercuts, Napoles ain't gonna'.
BARKLEY WAS STRONG, wild and Napoles was smooth and slick and he would have his share of target practice but I think Iran's strength may be took much, he was tough and could take it and swing from the bleachers. Napoles was an average size welter and a small Middleweight Iran was a nice sized Middleweight with natural strength
Napoles was way better pound for pound, but Barkley was big middlewieght, he was just able to make 160. If Barkley fights the way he did agaisnt Duran, Napoles wins.
Napoles was far better,pound for pound,but 147 was his optimum weight. Barkley could still be effective at thirty pounds heavier. The Blade eventually cuts through butter.
Just as i was keying up a " Blade Through Butter" response.. Thank you Stevie G ! Not a good Match-up for Jose, Even Iran's Crudeness might serve him here making him a tad Harder to predict for Jose than a more Cultured fighter, It might be Jose saying I ran if it goes the distance, but i do not trust Jose's eyes to hold up if Iran can drag him into a Rough-house, and with his physical advantages..i think he can, Maybe 7th or 8th Jose gets pulled out the walls are closing in and his corner do not want to leave it until the Roof falls in.
I don't know about that. Gil Clancy and Bernstein were both applauding Barkley's bodywork and general work rate throughout that fight. Both commented that this was the best version of Barkley they ever saw, with Clancy saying once you win the championship you pretty much improve by about 25% because you're confidence goes up so much. This is an exaggeration I know, but Barkley fought a very good fight. In fact, one could make an argument that Barkley should have gotten the nod in that fight, despite the knock down. The only thing that saved Duran during that fight was not hands of stone, but a chin of granite. In the later rounds, Clancy commented that it's going to be the guy who best take a punch that is going to win this fight, and that turned out to be Duran.
The Napoles from the Monzon bout would look impressive, and very fast, for the first 3 - 4, then he would likely get bullied and overwhelmed by Barkley's sheer strength and aggression. This is likely because Napoles strategy vs Monzon was to come at him aggressively to draw counters early and gain some respect, then hang back and be more selective (the latter which is just my opinion, due to the bout's outcome). It wouldn't work long against the less patient but game Barkley, although funnily enough Napoles would probably look better against the 'technical' Iran, crossing rights under his jab and riding the one-twos. You could argue that Napoles could hang back and make it more awkward, but unlike Duran, Napoles very rarely retreated into 'back pocket' work and didn't have the tactile defense of Duran, instead using mainly his vision and baiting movement. A brutal KO or corner stoppage is very likely here.