Jose Napoles vs Roberto Duran

Very difficult, this is prime Napoles? And Duran some will say was not at his best weight here, but this was more or less prime Duran, amazin' that night. People say Leonard lost the fight more than Duran won it - no. Leonard tried oxing early i thought, but Duran just never allowed it, and Leonard was allways an attacking fighter imo anyway, his movement was just to set up attacks imo.

Anyway, i think Napoles may try boxing, but will have to fight, where Napoles' hooks and uppercuts are world class, Duran's too. There will be a lot of skill involved on the inside defensively from both fighters. Hard to split them, but i think Duran squeaks a decision.

 

Oh man, this is a 50/50 fight, and a great one at that.

Leonard resorted to using movement to befuddle Duran, which worked. Napoles was a slicker boxer than Duran, more fluid on the outside and even mid-range, and was very capable of brawling it out, but Duran holds the inside edge(though Napoles was better at trading than Leonard), and I think this fight may take that route at some point, though Duran will be forced to respect Napoles. I think this fight will be pretty high-paced, even when fought at Napoles area, mid-range. However, it will be a rough affair, and Napoles's tendancy to cut will probably come into play, much as I hate to say it. I'd probably take Duran to win on cuts by around the 10th or something in a tight affair, points either way, maybe Duran slightly up.

If it went the distance, cuts playing no part, it's a pretty even affair, but the edge may go to Duran given the pace it would be fought at.

 

How would you guys rate Napoles power? Armando Muniz stated that Napoles hit harder than Ray Leonard.

 

I rate it quite high, which is why I believe Duran would have his hands full, and would have to respect him. Not only is his power very good, but he does fight better in close quarters than Leonard, and uses a jab more consistently, as has been pointed out. The more I look at this matchup, the closer it gets. Still, the cut factor would likely come into play.

 

I think this is very close too...Napoles precision against Duran's aggression. I'll go for Duran by UD (without cuts). Don't forget Roberto was very good defensively and I feel he has the durability edge against Napoles, and Duran may be slightly quicker both hands and feet. From the films I've seen of Napoles, he relies on using his reflexes to avoid punches while staying within range to counter...what an efficient fighter! That volitional choice of staying 'in the pocket' against Duran might mean trouble for Napoles...but he will have his moments too. Excellent fight.
Maybe Napoles is the better lightweight????

 

This is really tought, both fighters loved to fight almost entirely within punching range. Both were extremely adept at slipping punches offensively. Napoles' scythe like hooks at mid range and accuracy would make all the exchanges tougher for Duran than exchanges with Leonard in my opinion. Napoles at welter has a clear advantage at mid range. What I think that others may not agree with is that Duran probably would have the advantage on the outside. Napoles had an active jab, but he was not a mover like Leonard. If there wasn't movement behind a jab Duran was amazing at countering it with right hands over the top. The 4th round in Montreal comes to mind. Obviously I would say Duran has the advantage on the inside. So I'm taking Duran here but it would be close.

 

Duran was at his very best at Lightweight, you'd be willing to favor Napoles there? I've not seen footage of him there, but from what I gain he was even better at 135/140 than 147. What a fight it would've been, but still not much different than their matchup at 147.

One thing I disagree with, I don't feel Duran has the durability edge at all unless you're counting the fact that Napoles was stopped on cuts a few times.

I think we can all agree this would be a great, close fight whichever way it goes. And I believe it could go either way.

 

I've only seen two lightweight fights of Napoles (urbina II and Pruit I) ultra aggression and powerful. Not sure I'd pick him over Duran at lightweight, but Napoles looks awesome.
Durability? No, not from the cuts standpoint. I feel Duran has an edge in durabilty due to his success fighting at middleweight(Hagler, Barkley). But I'll say this, during Napoles' fight with Monzon, he hit Jose with four or five flush right hands and didn't put him down... (IMO) I'll still take Duran's overall durabilty over Napoles'

 

That's still pretty close, with a good possibility of getting even closer.

 

Napoles had scary, one shot power. Refer to the second fight with Ernie Indian Red Lopez where he nearly took Lopez' eye out of the socket and also knocked him out in 7. That was one right hand.

 

Who would you compare him as far as power or overall offense to at lightweight or welterweight Cobra? Better than Leonard, but not on a Robinson or Hearns level at welter I'm thinking.