2nd Round - 140 Pound Tourney - Jose Napoles vs. Meldrick Taylor

15 rounds. Your call.

 

Napoles all day

 

Napoles by a 7th round ko.

 

Well, Napoles is clearly the better fighter but Taylor´s workrate and fast punches would take their toll and cut Napoles up leading to a cut stoppage in the 10th while ahead on the cards.

Taylor TKO10 Napoles

 

Napoles via KO...more than likely late.

 

Napoles, i think that he may even be able to offset some of that rapid stuff from Meldrick. Taylor will ultimaely get outgunned in what will become a punch up on his part imo.

Napoles by stoppage.

 

If Taylor can hang in there for about 10 or so rounds I really like his chances in this one. He will hit Napoles with plenty and Jose's skin is prone to break up. You'd have to favour Napoles to get the win, likely by KO, but if Meldrick can last into the final rounds I think he can force a cut stoppage.

Alas, Napoles 9th round KO. Can see Taylor taking one in a series between the two though.

 

I'll take Napoles by late stoppage. I think Taylor would have his moments with his speed and boxing, but Napoles would wear him down. I see Taylor possibly looking similar to how he looked at the end of the Chavez fight.

 

Interestingly close fight. Napoles lets Meldrick move around the ring, which let's Taylors hands fly. Taylor's speed is the difference early, Napoles patiently follows & is studying his opponent. Taylor lands, piling up points, Napoles starts to move in about the seventh. In the tenth the fight is getting close. Taylor wont move away & Napoles' power is starting to show effects. Taylor looks worn out, but a nasty cut stops Napoles in his tracks. Unwilling to press the advantage, Napoles catiously moves around the ring and settles for a 15 round decision.

 

Napoles tended to let the other fighter set a pace and fought as hard as he would have to for the win. In this fight, Taylor would set his usual incredible pace, which would spur Napoles into an early confrontation. I see this fight ending earlier than most with Napoles taking Meldrick out around the 6th or 7th.

Scartissue

 

Taylor at his McGirt best would be a nightmare match-up for Napoles.

I take Taylor's handspeed to give him an edge early and eventually a slashing right to open up Jose's scar tissue around his eyes. Napoles would be brave, but the ref would eventually need to stop the bloodbath.

Taylor TKO11

 

Napoles stops him. Taylor takes the early rounds but Napoles is slick and quick himself. Eventually Jose overwhlems him.

 

I think Napoles would initially be shocked at Taylor's handspeed at the onset of the fight. Taylor would press and take the first 4-5 rounds, but remember how Chavez pushed Taylor to fight harder than he wanted to? I see something similar happening here. Napoles TKO10 from body shots.

 

This is Napoles fighting at a weight where he's a good size, not at a bit of a disadvantage. His power would really show itself.

Taylor would likely score with flurries here and there, but Napoles would find the harder shots down the middle more and more regularly as the fight wears on. Not an easy one because Taylor was just so quick, but Napoles has another level of class to see him through.