just watched Napoles sensational performance against Cokes. How good was Cokes as all i have seen is the 2 Napoles fights
He was good, not truly a great WW champ IMO. I would say he probably ranks somewhere in the range of Cuevas or Palomino. He was a very cagey, shifty counterpuncher with a quick, powerful sneak right hand. He hung around as a contender for a long time before winning the title, but lost several key fights and failed to distinguish himself as a leading contender, and even retired a few times (shades of Jersey Joe Walcott). Eventually, after Griffith vacated the title, and many of the other top WWs either moved up or faded away, an opening was made for him at the top and he slipped right in. His biggest claim to fame is that he apparently had Luis Rodriguez's number, as he beat him 2 out of 3. His second win came in an eliminator which earned him his title shot. Rodriguez had been tabbed as the logical successor to Griffith, but Cokes upset the applecart by pounding him into a 15th round stoppage - the first time Rodriguez was ever stopped, I believe. Cokes had a few good wins during his stay at the top, but then was toppled by the next great welter to come along in Napoles, and then faded away after that.
was Napoles masterful performance a great result for Napoles (as in how many other fighters could do that in that fashion)
Wasnt the LMR fight stopped out of frustration because the ref was very strict on LMR's body punching? Id love to see that fight.
I've never heard anything like that. I've only heard that Cokes was punishing him by the late rounds, and was pounding him along the ropes in the last round when Rodriguez's corner threw in the towel.
Fair enough...I thought I read an interview from Dundee saying something like that or maybe it was just a case of that affecting his overall performance.
Cokes was beginning to fade by the time of the first Napoles fight (but made a great paycheck out in LA). The second fight was for pure money only.....he really had no true shot to win. I was told they wanted Nino Benev. but Luis Rodriguez got the shot instead. Nino pulled that fight out late. If LMR had won, he might have fought Cokes.
LMR had Nino bleeding bad in that one ay...sliced him open, which he seemed to have knack for doing. Brutal finish from Benvenuti in that one.
