I think a lot of people sleep on how good Vargas actually was during his prime. He had a very short peak and is absolutely shot now, at a relatively young 29, but prior to the loss against Tito, which ruined him, he was a brilliant fighter. How would he do against some of the ATG's? This is one fight I think he does pretty well in. I can't imagine many people thinking twice about the result, but Vargas may have a good chance here. In 3 fights, I'd expect Vargas to get a W in one. Possibly two, but I wouldn't bet on it. Any other thoughts?
Even in 3 fights, I wouldn´t expect one single Vargas- win to be honest. Sure, he was a fine boxer with very good power, but Napoles had at least as much power, and had even better skills, better chin, etc., I see a late TKO for Napoles... Napoles TKO 10 Vargas
I think Vargas is underrated too, but not to the point that he would beat Napoles. Napoles would counter his wider shots and wear him down. Late stoppage or easy decision.
I don't mean to sound like I'm totally writing off Fernando Vargas, but this would be no contest at all. Jose Napoles would have dominated Vargas within 3 rounds for ko or tko. Napoles would have been like a buzzsaw, battering and chopping up Vargas so badly you would think you were watching a pro fighting an amateur. I reference Jose' '72 fight with Adolph Pruitt, where he cut and chopped up the poor guy so much he almost looked like he was in a car accident. The only difference is that fight was stopped before Naploes was able to put Pruitt down, and Vargas has never had much of a chin, so he would be up and down like a yo yo. Napoles in 3, with the referee mercifully intervening.
It would be a competitive fight, with both combatants giving and taking good shots. Napoles, IMO, would prevail by UD or late round stoppage. His power is comparable with Vargas, but having and edge in overall skill makes this slab of butter a bit too slippery to handle for El Feroz.
Napoles was as smooth as butter, as his nickname implied. He would have outboxed and outfoxed Vargas.
Napoles very VERY underated!!! vargas just not in same class!! Jose was great light,jr&welter!!He was simply out of weight taking on monzon!!:rofl
Jack, Vargas might have had a very short peak and may be even underrated, but don't forget to consider just how great Jose Napoles was. A peak Napoles just doesn't lose to any version of Vargas.
napoles would have outslugged and outboxed fernando, stopping him by round 10. Good fight, though, with vargas showing great heart and having his moments.
Yes. In his prime Napoles easily beat Curtis Cokes for the title, who was considered a very good fighter. And he had no trouble at all beating Emile Griffith, still within his prime (Emile would beat Dick Tiger within the year and later give Monzon all he could handle in two fights), in an early defense of his welterweight title. Let's see Vargas against Dick Tiger or Emile Griffith.