Jose Napoles vs Henry Armstrong

Mantequilla by decision at 140. Any smaller, and Armstrong wins.

 

Bodypunching yes your right, defense is a bigger advantage for Napoles, Armstrong is ofcourse better in close quarters too

 

............Napoles had a great right uppercut that he'd throw off the hook or jab (he seemed to rarely throw a standard straight right). That uppercut would play heavily here.

I see this as an ugly fight, and not as full of extended exchanges as one might think, as Napoles liked to work from a little bit of a distance. Not long range by any means, but there was a zone just barely within punching range where he seemed real comfortable. Amstrong would try to take that away, but I think in a clinch-filled wrestling match, Napoles just edges him.

 

Fans who missed the 70's may criticise me for this, but I believe that Napoles was the creme of the crop of welters, and a master fighter all around, a uniquely gifted fighter...he would be too much for even the great Armstrong, and would deck and punish Henry en route to a decision or even a late rounds tko. Mantequilla was the best at welterweight, with his only possible flaw being his tendency to cut and swell around the eyes.

 

You're assuming Napoles wasnt as good at lighter weights