Basilio by SD or TKO late, Mantequilla smooth but Carmine gets rough and Napoles gets cut, Basilio strong down the stretch
Napoles would be winning until Basilio cuts him. I like the Onion Farmer by late TKO in an otherwise even match.
Basilio is too strong for Napoles. He would outmuscle him on the inside and win a decision or possibly a TKO on cuts.
I would've liked to have seen Napoles tested against more (or any, perhaps) fighters of Basilio's caliber before making a prediction on this.
I'll take Basilio, Napoles has great skills but he's really not a natural welter, he looks pretty small in there. I feel that Basilio would be able to force a very physical fight where his size and strength could give him enough to get the decision.
just to throw in, i've made the comment many times about napoles getting cut and though he did, the amount and frequency gets blown out of proportion. he was hardly chuck wepner and I don't think it's a given. basilio himself was more than cutable and i don't want to says it's forgone conclusion the fight will end on cuts having said that, i like the posts and for me it depends on who can dictate the pace and fight the fight THEY want. in the centre of the ring, with some room to work it's all napoles. in a war and on the ropes, basilio tortures him. i see the latter happening more than the former basilio tko 14
Joe Naps was the better overall boxer with finess and savvy, but Carmen Basilio was physically much more stronger, durable and tougher over a tuff and grueling affair.... If this fight were set at 150 pounds, I'd say Carmen Basilio all the way to San Jose....... Let's face the facts, Joe Naps was not a big 147 pounder at all..... Joe Naps had the attributes of a 135 to 140 pounder; 147 was a stretch for Naps...... MR.BILL
Napoles a class above, he maybe smaller but he certainly still punches heavy at the 147lb weight, faster, technically better, better movement, better combinations, even better on the inside/mid range. Basilio's only hope is to cut Napoles but that isn't as likely as some make it out to be either
