Jose Napoles vs Wilfred Benitez 147

Both at their best Benitez by ud,one of the best boxers of all time vs a very good boxer

 

Napoles probably TKO's Benitez late in a 15 rd fight (otherwise a UD for Napoles).

Napoles was basically welter champ from 1969 - 1975; i.e 7 years, except for that hiccup against Billy Backus,
which Napoles avenged. Napoles cleaned up the WW Division.

As was said about the 2 Cokes vs Napoles fights: "Cokes didn't know where the punches were coming from".
Napoles would eventually get through, even on Benitez.

At welter Benitez beat Palomino by

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in San Juan, and beat other Jr. Welter Champs Antonio Cervantes by

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, and Bruce Curry (twice by

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). WB got stopped by SRL in the 15th in a title defense, and was well behind in the fight.

1979-01-14 : Wilfred Benitez 146 lbs beat Carlos Palomino 146½ lbs by SD in round 15 of 15

• Location: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Referee: Zach Clayton
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• Judge: Harry Gibbs 146-143
• Judge: Jay Edson 146-142

• WBC Welterweight Title (8th defense by Palomino)

 

Napoles KO he was great great. Napoles over Leonard too not by ko

 

Naples doesn't beat a prime Leonard, and very doubtful he beats a prime and focused Benitez. Theirs no one on Napoles ledger that suggests he defeats Benitez and esp Leonard . Napoles was an excellent fighter but Curtis Cokes , Billy Backus, H. Lewis or old version of E.Griffith his best competition doesn't suggest he had the ability to beat Benitez or Leonard. Plus, Napoles was a small welter, and probably could have fought at lightweight easily. While both Leonard and Benitez went up from welter successfully. I see the fights as competitive, but Napoles loses to Benitez and Leonard, and Leonard probably stops him.

 

Hi. Longhorn just put my thoughts much more succilently than I could hope to imagine.

I don't think they're separate classes of fighter, the opposite actually. Very close in terms of greatness with Napoles shading Benitez just a tad, due to his long time dominance at one weight and having a far superior offensive arsenal. Jose could throw every single punch in the book, with both hands, and I do agree that over 15 he eventually catches up with Benitez.

 

Wonder what Ernie "Red" Lopez thought about Napoles at WW, after having his eye socket shattered by a Napoles' uppercut.

Forgotten Fights : Jose Napoles vs. Ernie Lopez II:

A look back at the brutal rematch between Jose Napoles and Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez. A back and forth battle ensued before Napoles crushed Lopez' title hopes with an uppercut that nearly shattered his optic nerve. Discussion includes the aftermath of the brutal fight, as Lopez would become homeless and forgotten while Napoles would enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

Napoles by wide decison

 

Mantequilla was the complete boxer El Radar could have been if he could have been more disciplined. It took brilliant boxers to beat a prime El Radar ( Sugar Ray and the Hitman ). Mantequilla was brilliant.

 

Napoles had a peculiar, heavy-handed offense, with his own rhythmic sense of positioning and timing - nicely combined with his defense. I think this presents a problem for EL Radar; sufficient for Napoles to outpoint him or even wear down the often 'too economical for his own good' Benitez, for a stoppage win.

 

The young Napoles' footwork was excellent.

 

Mantequilla would have gotten Benitez before round 10...after decking him twice. Napoles would have finished off Wilfred much quicker and more decisively than Leonard did.

 

It was ideal, in a delightfully economical, effective Cuban salsa sort of way. Napoles was the man.

 

Napoles has "versatile" power...meaning, he could end a fight in several ways...he could chop a guy up into ground round, like he did Curtis Cokes, he could rip, slash and batter you to pieces like a buzz saw, very quickly, like Adolph Pruitt, or do you in with one shot like he did Ernie Lopez in their 2nd bout which ended in round 7.