If you actually watch this punch-for-punch, you really do see how flukey the loss was: [yt]HTWAzx7hijQ[/yt] [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTWAzx7hijQ[/url] Backus was only a decent fighter (certainly not championship class, but strong enough), but it's a good one to watch for Napoles' boxing abilities. To save you having to examine the fight for skills too closely, here are some highlights from the first two minutes. Make sure you check them out: 00:14 - blocks jab, lands right, ducks & blocks return fire, lands two jabs. 00:26 - slips a left, intantaneously counters with a right-left. Notice the uppercut that was ready for Backus had he ducked in further, and Napoles bouncing back out of range retaining perfect balance. 1:43 - timed right lead stalls Backus who looked ready to launch 1:57 - Avoids punch, lands Gavilan esque 'bolo', avoids return The action heats up in the next round as Backus gets braver. He ends up hitting Napoles more, but as a consequence, Napoles starts landing harder, particularly with one-twos. Round three is exciting and Backus lands even more, but again, so does Napoles. The fight is stopped in round four due to a cut. Backus wins. Had Napoles not been cut, I would expect the next two or three rounds to be quite hard on both fighters, but for Backus to tire and Napoles to take control and start dominating until a stoppage in his favour around the eleventh. Backus fought the fight of his life but for the soon to be ex champion it seemed like just another job; he only fought as hard as his opponents, but better. It's worth watching the whole video though because aside from the highlights there's a lot of single punches landed by Napoles and he really doesn't take much back at all in the first round - it shows what would happen if a fighter in the mould of Backus fought too passively. His right leads are something specific to look for, his balance, too, and the way he counters as Backus' punch is still in motion, rather than after it.
There's also the vid of the rematch where he takes Backus out. Looks great in both vids. Shows how skilled he can be in exchanges though, this one. One of my favorite fighters to watch.
It would be interesting to see Napoles against Whitaker... Because of course, as an attacker, Napoles is far more varied and tricky than even Julio Cesar Chavez.
I'll take Napoles at WW, probably Whitaker at LW. At 140 it's up for grabs, may actually lean slightly towards Napoles, as Whitaker was more flat-footed at this weight(or at least that's what he showed against Pineda), and as good and versatile as he was, I don't think he matches Napoles offensively aside from the jab. But still, he fought well off the backfoot, and behind the jab, so it would be very interesting to see how Napoles would attempt to outbox him. I definitely think Napoles is one of the toughest matchups for Pea, but it would be a purist's dream to watch these two go at it at their best. 135 or 140 would make for the best fight I think.
Backus KO4 Napoles was an amazing upset by a gritty clubfighter over a great champion. It was a lucky win for Backus, but a legitimate win nonetheless. I love to see these kinds of upsets happen.
Thank you for the video.The problem with Napoles,as I see it,was the he was never really more than an overstuffed lightweight .In no way would I decry his ability,I went to see him training for Ralph Charles in the Uk,he was very impressive.Hardly a wasted punch,economical and accurate ,with the composure of an assassin,but I think he could be bullied around by strong Welters,as you intimate, Backus was not in his class ,but he was strong and willing.Napoles ,in his prime ,had lazer like shots ,that found you and did damage,but I allways had a sense that very physical guys could worry him. Basilio was one fella that I think would have given the more gifted Napoles big problems for the reasons Ive giiven,Backus was not in that class ,but he was durable enough to walk through the punches of a far more talented operator and cause trouble.
This is my thinking, although I don't know if Basilio would do it. I see Napoles scraping a win by two rounds or so in a great fight. Armstrong, maybe a bit small. Mickey Walker might have done it.
LOL KO4.... TKO4 or as we know it RSF4. This is back in a golden era of boxing where you had no need for stupid technical draws or wins, a fighter was cut by accident or by a punch and was deemed unable to continue he lost. No one thought any less of Napoles, because everyone knew he was class, in an era where you did not need an '0' to be the man.
Agreed. Which makes you wonder what the hell Angelo Dundee was thinking when he stuck poor Napoles in front of Monzon.
That match was as realistic as Uk's Dave Charnley a very talented Lightweight ,being matched with the reigning Welterweight Champion ,Emille Griffith,there was only one reason for it . £$£$£ !
He ruled the division in the 70's. He would have ruled in the 80s as well tho Lloyd and Simon would have been stern tests for him. Starling would have been a cakewalk.
