jose "mantequilla" napoles

Yes, Mayweather will just "find counter-punching opportunities" against a technically faultless defensive artist with a proven ability to avoid getting countered through second-to-none punch anticipation and ring awareness (who happens to be a more competent and varied counter-puncher than Floyd himself). If anyone gets countered here, it's Mayweather.

All of this is assuming that Mayweather would actually step up to the plate and fight Napoles, which, as we all know, is nowhere near as likely as him deciding to take a DUCK as is his custom.

Yeah, Napoles would win on strength and speed, not because of the manifest difference in talent or anything. Napoles never really fought faster than was necessary (partially because he didn't lead much) and never really added WW strength after moving up unlike the bulky Mosley who regularly hits the ring at 160 on fight night.

 

Napoles fights with a rhythm like he's dancing. It is very effective. However if you can pick up on it you can disrupt it. Mayweather has the ring IQ to do just that. The countering in this fight would be done by Mayweather.

 

He moves his head if that's what you mean. At 147 he never did any hopping around.

And how, exactly?

Your boy would get lit up here; just face it.

 

I don't see Napoles having an easy time with any of the top dogs. Mayweather and Pacquaio are a league faster than anyone I've seen him in with and in a boxing match that's massive advantage he may not be able to overcome. Mayweather is far more skilled and harder to hit than anyone he's faced. I see Mayweather outboxing him to a clear UD, Pacquaio I'm undecided as while in theory Pacquaio is there to be countered in reality his speed makes it hard to do so. The pace Napoles fights at is also far from earth shattering.

As for Cotto/Margo, he should beat them, but weight drainers that they are they will have huge size advantages, which again matters in boxing

Then we have to remember Napoles got stopped on cuts often enough

 

Hedgemon Lewis was pretty fast. Then again it should be noted that Napoles (an older version) had his share of trouble with him. Cokes's counter punches were fast, but he couldn't land at all on Napoles.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqFCUtzP49s[/ame]

 

Mayweather outboxing Napoles

Mayweather couldn't outbox Zab Judah.

 

Lewis and Cokes are fast but I'd still put them a level below Pac/Mayweather and as you said his speed was a problem as we see Napoles getting hit clean far more than usual. Mayweather/Pac are also pretty accurate wtih fast feet too

 

Except he won about 9 rounds and Zab's about twice as fast as Napoles. If Napoles is going to he's going to have to apply intelligent pressure, he isn't outboxing him in a million years

 

Why you seem to think that hand-speed and being black are the two deciding factors in any contest of boxing skills I really cannot fathom. Napoles has a proven ability to neutralise any of the meagre offensive output Mayweather can muster (i.e. the straight right hand/lead left hook on repeat followed by unsophisticated holding) with technical slipping skills, range control and footwork which he proved against fighters with just as much ability as Floyd has at 147. (Not that he would have a particularly better chance at 135.) Since moving up Mayweather has been increasingly flat on his feet and is hardly going to be effectively bicycle-riding to a decision, not least against somebody who can cut off the ring and adjust output where necessary. And yes, if Mayweather struggles to outbox the likes of Judah and has to resort to winning the fight on his (far from formidable) physical ability and courage, it does not bode well for his chances against one of the slipperiest and smoothest boxers ever.

 

Good post :good

 

What are you babbling on about, did I say Zab was more skilled, I said he was twice as quick as Napoles. Speed matters in boxing, you can pretend it doesn't all you want. Napoles isnt beating Mayweather to the punch like Zab could early, he hasn't got the speed or the quality long jab/lead right (or lead left for Zab) to do the job on the outside, he's at his best at mid range. Thats the problem Mayweather had but if you watch the fight in slowmo Judah still missed most of his punches. Then Mayweather adapted and started timing his opponent. As for resorting to winning the fight on 'courage', I think you need rewatch the fight because he was hardly walking through punches to land his own

As for Napoles beating better WWs than FMJ, pure BS, he hasn't beat anyone in Mayweather's class, no one as accurate, no one as fast, no one who disguises their punches aswell, no one remotely as good defensively.

As for the fight, it revolves largely around who can impose their fight on the other. If its an outfight Napoles has no chance, if he slips to mid range and rattles his combinations off regularly he clearly has the advantage

 

Hedgemon Lewis is such a lovely classical boxer. Just superb to watch.

 

I don't think he was inferior in speed compared to a welterweight Mayweather, certainly more mobile if not faster of hand. He just lacked the physical strength and durability of other top fighters.

 

Cost him a lot really, the lack of strength and durability. His skill set is superb. A real classical jab and mover with a cultured left hand a nice right cross. Lovely technician to watch.

In the gym's around the 70's Lewis was revered among fighters, I am led to believe. And you can see why. A real fighters fighter.

 

It's got **** all to do with beating anybody to the punch mate. Judah was the only remotely skilled fighter Mayweather took on at the weight and he had to resort to imposing physical attributes (rather than outboxing) to get the W. Like I said, if Judah can avoid your leads and start countering effecitlvely then you have **** all hope of "outboxing" Napoles.

Speed matters, but toolkit matters more. (And the difference in toolkit is greater than the difference in speed.)

Another misunderstanding/category mistake. Napoles wasn't predisposed to any range. His whole style keyed around dictating the range with his abilities.

Timing slash applying pressure slash winning on activity against a man not known for his fighting spirit exactly.

Cokes was as fine a Welter as Floyd IMO, though not close P4P, and was as good a counter-puncher which was my original claim

This remark provides the key.