Barney Ross vs Jose Napoles

Ross via clear but competitive UD

 

Napoles by a comfortable decision!

 

WOW !!! ,,, I'll take Jose's boxing and Ross' courage in this one. How's that for a pick

 

Based on the film I have seen of Ross, I have to go with Napoles on points.

 

Although Napoles & Ross are about the same height, Napoles has a 5-inch reach advantage,
72" vs 67".

Ross was a "workman deluxe" who went about his task diligently; He was a good boxer and puncher but not an overpowering one; He had good skills, was game and was never knocked out; During his career, he won the Lightweight Championship of the World, the Junior Welterweight Championship of the World and the Welterweight Championship of the World.

Among those he defeated were Tony Canzoneri, Ceferino Garcia, Jimmy McLarnin, Battling Battalino, Billy Petrolle, Sammy Fuller, Ray Miller, Joe Ghnouly, Frankie Klick, Henry Woods, "Baby" Joe Gans, Johnny Datto, William "Goldie" Hess and Bobby Pacho.

Nat Fleischer ranked Ross as the #9 All-Time Welterweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #9 All-Time Welterweight; Herb Goldman ranked him as the #10 All-Time Lightweight; He was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1956 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

Most surveys rate Napoles in the top 4-5 welters of all time.

Prime Napoles by decision. (but not the Napoles who was hitting the cervezas heavily during the back-half of his career).

 

Napoles wins by a very close decision. Would have to be at his best.
He would constantly draw and counter Ross's jab with his rocking movement.

 

I can only imagine this being a very close fight that goes the full 15 rounds.
Very evenly matched fighters

 

That's how I see it. Just too tight for me to pick one over the other

 

The Ross's, McLarnins, Canzonari's were without question tough as nails, terrific fighters but all seem to have been tiny for their weight divisions, as if they puffed up to make weights .. I may rate Ross better at 135 .. I'd go w Napoles.

 

Ross's toughness was legendary. I might be wrong but I'm not sure he he faced a brutal puncher like Napoles. Other than that, its a toss up. Armstrong's footwork was on par or maybe even superior to Napoles's excellent movement.

 

Ever since I posted this, I actually think Napoles would win much wider like Philly said. Bad style for Ross IMO.

 

This is actually a really good post, I might have to reconsider my stance

 

Only McLarnin had a "comfortable decision" over Ross anywhere near his prime and of course Ross had just done Jimmy the same favor.

Not saying that Napoles couldn't pull the trick but the odds are long.

I will go with Napoles hanging on to a diminishing advantage over the championship rounds to squeak by on the cards.

 

Napoles by close decision for me.