Jose Napoles v Pernell Whitaker @ 147

Actually the only person that said that was a bad decision was Eddie Perkins. I'm not going to contradict Eddie on this one because no film exists, but the reports on the fight that I have read all state that the 3 officials gave Napoles 7 rounds and none for Perkins, which suggests a 7-0-3 for Napoles. Again, grain of salt here. All Mexican officials and the reports I've read describing the fight were probably from a Mexican correspondant. Eddie always said he was robbed bad, so we're not likely to hear the real story in our lifetime. As for the Lewis fight, I saw both Napoles-Lewis fights and I was really keen on Lewis to win both times when these fights happened. I think Lewis fought the wrong fight the second time around, but in the first one, he was so slick, but maybe a little too slick for his own good. He let the fight get away from by staying on his bike. But Napoles just killed him to the body that night. I'm not surprised you may have been unimpressed with Napoles by seeing one or two fights. It's not until you've seen multiple fights of his one can get a handle on him. I think it was after the Roger Menetrey fight where he beat him 15-0 on all cards, that a writer brought up a perfect synopsis on Napoles. He stated, "Napoles only fights just as hard as he has to in order to win." He surmised we may never see what he is actually capable of because he won't shift into that next gear. I saw him step into the next gear a few times when suddenly confronted with a situation like the Ralph Charles fight and the second Adolph Pruitt fight. Charles caught him with a shot that he must've considered affrontory and he just went out and ended it. In the Pruitt fight (which is on youtube), see what he can do when he suddenly wants to. Pruitt presented a "I'm taking you out" type stance and what Napoles does is amazing. Precision pin-point punching. It was like threading a needle. But before anyone thinks I'm this huge Napoles fan, I hated him back in the day. I was a big Armando Muniz fan and that first fight still sticks in my craw. But like him or hate him, I do appreciate his skill.

 

I feel the same.

 

Napoles had skills don't get me wrong but I just feel hes overrated-I mean match him up with say a Leonard and besides pin point counterpunching what advantages would he have over Leonard?But yet most people pick him over Leonard.
Eddie Perkins was not the only one to dispute that decision and Perkins was known to be pretty classy so I doubt he would just throw that out there as well.

 

Just curious-- who, if anyone, beats Whitaker at 147, in your opinion?

 

Napoles

 

On his best day, some would. I'm taking him at his best. Not the hit or miss version we saw. Whitaker would dictate the pace her and control Napoles for most of the fight. That's just how I see it. I'm just not picturing Napoles adjusting to Pea's style enough to win. That said, I could see Napoles scoring a couple of flash knockdowns and that could win him the fight. Plausible.

 

Hearns,Leonard,Curry would beat Pea at welter.
I think he gets by Benitez anfpd Duran I'm not sure of.