Could Napoles at his best pull out a Duran-style win over Leonard?

I tend to think someone with the speed of Leonard would more often than not just beat Napoles to the punch. Napoles's size and susceptibility to cuts would've always been an issue against the bigger cream of the crop Welters, in my opinion.

 

Even if Napoles did show superior skill in this one, (which i don't reckon would be sustained even if it did surface), Leonard would just be too strong imo.

 

Your obsessed with skill and size aint ya?

I like El Buija's point on Leonards speed, I think that is one of the keys in beating Napoles. Napoles likes to keep it centre ring. In centre ring speed is very important as it helps you get off first. Leonard had the potential to get off first here.

However, Leonard held the speed advantage over Duran, but Duran got off first by crowding him IMO. So Napoles would have to get inside and get his shots off first, but I do not think he posses the kind of pressure Duran brings that enables him to be 'one-step ahead'. I think more often than not Leonard would be able to get off first with Napoles.

The other key to victory in beating Napoles is holding the strength advanatage, and Leonard would hold it IMO. It was more a comfort thing for Napoels though, when he was the stronger guy he could do as he pleased, take that away from him and he has to be at the top of his game.

 

Good.

I think Duran more crowded, whereas Napoles was more 'technically correct' at going inside, he wouldnt just rush in, he would be quite methodical about it. It dosent sound right but can you understand me?

He struggled when guys took the strength advanatge from him, Billy Backus did this and had more sucess than you would expect him too, Armando Muniz also did it and arguably should have won the first bout, and Monzon did this brilliantly.

Perhaps, it wasnt holding the strength advanatge it was using it, that gave Napoles problems then.

 

Okay Greg-

To e honest i thought Duran did well against his faster opponent in Leonard the first time due to a number of factors. What you said is one of them, crowding him etc, and doing it early as the third round. But i think on that particular night he was better technically also, definitly from the waist up anyway, getting off first at range early on in the fight etc. Also, not allowing any path of escape via lateral movement, he did that by coming underneath with left and right hooks/uppercuts. He nipped all of that in the bud early the way i saw it. When i was saying that even if Napoles shows superior skill (which i don't see him doing so conclusively), i wasn't saying that Leonard's own skill wouldn't be factoring in his speed. His handspeed would be a huge factor of his own good work, and especially when banging out his jab. Napoles would find this jab harder to slip than any other he's come up against, and like you say, he'd probably go inside, and i just think Leonard's too strong physically.

Itrymariti, what i meant about his strength is that at welterweight, i think that is Napoles' biggest weakness (cuts not withstanding), and Leonard is an offensive minded animal most definitely. Leonard is looking to box for opportunties to unloiad, and Napoles as has been already said may have to come inside, and when you go inside on Leonard, he fights. I just reckon Loenard would end up knocking the **** out fo him really, even though his pressure fighting isn't of the most educated type. Leonard would be catching all kinds of counters and shots flush, but i reckon he;s the one who is imposing his will utlimately.

 

Ok, good.

But he did struggle with them, it wasnt a slow Napoles, or a not sharp Napoles making it a hard fight, their strength played a massive part in it IMO.

Backus's strength IMO led to his success in the fight, I will have to review it again though.

What you thinking though, is it using thee strength advanatge that is crucial? Or just having it?

Because I don't see Leonard using it in the way, say, Muniz did.

I will have to re-watch this. Can't remember too much about it, but after Napoles' early sucess Monzon came on strong pushed him back and dominated.

Perhaps so, but I don't think that will get him a victory here. IMO he needs to get mid-range sort of inside fight. I think Leonards speed advanatge would let him take over a mid-ring stand off with Napoles.

I cannae mind either.

You Harold Ledermen?

Agreed.

Good observations, I do agree completly. I would put this (bold) under Durans swarming attack, the crowding I mean. He ddint let Leonard away, I think Naples can't quite impose himself, or never quite imposed himself, like that.

Agreed.


Whats your guys thoughts on Napoles jab in this?

 

Napoles could very well defeat Leonard. Jose was an exceptional fighter, smooth like Benitez and a much harder puncher. He is an all time top five welter in my book without question.

It is a known fact that Duran's management made sure he avoided any match ups with Napoles. They felt he was too dangerous ...

 

Okay Greg

the jab of Napoles, it's a great tool not just because it lands or whatever, it's the way he uses it to outjab his opponent's in conjunction with slipping their. Napoles is slipping in and out of range ever so slightly, and just using the right amount of head movement and controlling the range with his own jab all synonomously, it's really impressive in terms of generalship. In this fight i just reckon it would be so hard for him, Leonard's own jab is so fast, and Leonard has such good footwork to keep up with Napoles that i can;t see Napoles putting on a clinic or anything like that. Really, at the end of the day, i just think this physical advantage is jumping out at me to the point where i can't see Napole swinning, and definitely not establishing his jab in any kind of dominating fashion.