Johnny Tapia vs Orlando Canizales

For me Canizales.

 

Canizales by decision.

Canizales is much better technically.

Tapia has the energy.

Tapia probably builds a lead, but Canizales comes on late for the win.

 

Funny I would pick Gaby to beat Tapia but like Tapia over brother Orlando.

 

Assuming the contest were to take place at 118, I think this one goes the distance, with Canizales taking the decision.

Both very tough competitors, but Tapia was aging by the time he campaigned at 118 and he was fast finding it hard to control his weight, by then, if my memory serves me. Not his peak weight, in my opinion.

Canizales, at his 118 best, is some distance ahead of Tapia in terms of skills, at any rate. But, I think one could count on the fighting instincts of Tapia to make this a very interesting battle and a great spectacle.

 

Interesting proposition, though Tapia, to the best of my knowledge, didn't show an inclination to challenge anyone there, during his heyday at 115.

Canizales was also tight at 118, for much of his title reign so, a catchweight was probably unlikely.

In any event, prime-for-prime, I'd always have to favor Canizales, over the course. Tapia makes it competitive, for sure, and he might even look the likely winner, during the early rounds. But, Canizales was just the more complete and disciplined boxer, in my opinion, and he'd control the majority of the bout to take it on the scorecards.

 

Canizales

 

Yep - fair enough - and I did consider it again, without the constraints on Tapia's actual timeline to 118. But, even thinking back to Tapia's 115 days - yeah - Canizales is still too much, overall.

 

Both guys always make entertaining fights and this could very well be a tough and competitive fight, but I think Canizales' better discipline, combinations and footwork will get the better of Tapia later in the fight. Tapia wouldn't be able to outbox Canizales nor be able slug with Canizales without getting countered hard.

 

I've seen that and I lean towards your line of thinking, a little. The things is, Tapia was a great competitor and he could be a bit unorthodox in the process of being so. This made him entertaining to watch and, at the same time, I can imagine very frustrating to fight with.

This is why I think a disciplined approach, combined with above average skills, was required to beat him (a la Barrera against Hamed). In my opinion Danny Romero almost managed this against Tapia, but unraveled slightly in the final stanzas.