Rare footage of Napoles as a lightweight

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by My2Sense, Sep 25, 2009.


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  1. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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

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

    [yt]j5oVr4jN7Ek[/yt]

    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. :shock:

    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?
     
    My2Sense, Sep 25, 2009
    My2Sense, Sep 25, 2009
    #1
  2. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    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.
     
    red cobra, Sep 25, 2009
    red cobra, Sep 25, 2009
    #2
  3. Wu-Gambino

    Wu-Gambino ESB Swordsman Full Member

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    Maybe it's just me but the film looks a little sped up.. could just be the speed of the fighters though...
     
    Wu-Gambino, Sep 25, 2009
    Wu-Gambino, Sep 25, 2009
    #3
  4. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It looks like it's a bit inconsistent with the speed - it speeds up at moments, and then it's normal at moments.
     
    My2Sense, Sep 25, 2009
    My2Sense, Sep 25, 2009
    #4
  5. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    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
     
    PowerPuncher, Sep 25, 2009
    PowerPuncher, Sep 25, 2009
    #5
  6. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    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.
     
    My2Sense, Sep 25, 2009
    My2Sense, Sep 25, 2009
    #6
  7. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    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!
     
    TheGreatA, Sep 26, 2009
    TheGreatA, Sep 26, 2009
    #7
  8. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    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
     
    AlFrancis, Sep 26, 2009
    AlFrancis, Sep 26, 2009
    #8
  9. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    saving this to watch after the FFN repeat

    thanks for this
     
    GPater11093, Sep 26, 2009
    GPater11093, Sep 26, 2009
    #9
  10. bum of the week

    bum of the week Member Full Member

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    Sep 6, 2008
    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.
     
    bum of the week, Sep 26, 2009
    bum of the week, Sep 26, 2009
    #10
  11. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    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.
     
    he grant, Sep 26, 2009
    he grant, Sep 26, 2009
    #11
  12. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Napoles would have been like DeJesus on steroids for Duran.
     
    red cobra, Sep 26, 2009
    red cobra, Sep 26, 2009
    #12
  13. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    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
     
    GPater11093, Sep 26, 2009
    GPater11093, Sep 26, 2009
    #13
  14. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    One of the very best fighters of all time.
     
    Sweet Pea, Sep 26, 2009
    Sweet Pea, Sep 26, 2009
    #14
  15. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    :huhThat was always one of the best parts of his game.
     
    Sweet Pea, Sep 26, 2009
    Sweet Pea, Sep 26, 2009
    #15
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