Jose Napoles vs Thomas Hearns at 147

that sounds like a plan teeto

 

Teeto; :good

heGrant; whilst I appreciate someone giving a different slant (and glad someone has backed up Napoles) to say he is 'overrated' is a bit of a silly statement.

He may have ended his WW tenure early, but lost ONCE; to H2H one of the greatest Welters of all-time, in a 14-round thriller that Hearns dominated for quite a few rounds.

If Hearns is outboxing Leonard (and if you watched the fight you'd see how well he does it) then that shows he has very, very good boxing skills.

He had a beautiful jab. He was the first to stop Cuevas I believe, and this is when Cuevas was seriously feared. This shows Hearns was hard to intimidate at this weight, and also demonstrates the potency of his speed and right hand.

Whilst Hearns resume isn't fantastic at 147, like Aaron pryor he can be judged in hypothetical match-ups due to the skills he put on display.

 

It does, like i say though, i only see it as tecnhically correct, as Hearns might just be too strong etc. Who knows?

 

i think its napoles only plan as hearns coming forward being aggressive would negate the reach difference as long as napoles could slide and counter he is then the range to work

 

:good good post Mr B.

 

I feel if Napoles utilized his skills properly he could duck and slip and then counter to Hearns' ribs-or chin. Because Hearns wasn't at peak form at 147, I feel Jose, with his combination of immense skills and punching power, would slowly wear Hearns down for either a UD or late TKO.

However, at 154, it would be another story!

 

I still don't get all this talk about Hearns being pre-prime at 147. He showed a lot of his best stuff there, IMO. Stylistically, he should be as wrong as it gets for Napoles. I agree with Teeto on the most pratical strategy for beating Napoles. However, in this case Hearns is one of the very few capable of out-boxing him as well as out-bombing him. I think Napoles's best chance to win this fight is to approach it like he did with Monzon. Hearns's defense wasn't as reliable as Monzon's, nor especially his chin. Against a pressuring, hooking Napoles, I think Hearns may be caught cold early on.

If he survives, I think he is capable of out-boxing Napoles in a similar way to how he did against Leonard. On the other hand, Napoles I think would be more commited to pure pressure fighting than Leonard, who was more intent on picking his spots and going all out in single bursts. I don't think Napoles would take any more punishment than Leonard did, but he may be inflicting more on Hearns in the mean time.

If I were a betting man, I'd probably favor Hearns by decision. However, I could see Napoles hurting him early as well. I just don't think he'd finish him off that early if Leonard couldn't.

 

I agree with this as well, virtually we're on the same page consistently throughout this one. The only thing that we may slightly differ on is that i see Hearns as slighlty more 'complete' stylistically, so to speak, or more composed and polished as a boxer at 154 pounds. But that would be nitpicking, and isn't really the subject here.

 

The pre-prime talk about Hearns at welter was because it is true. He was just 22. He had been tested by Weston and was lucky a thumb stopped Weston from taking over their bout. After blowing out Cuevas he had a difficult time being extended by Shields. Leonard showed not only his questionable stamina and chin but his inability to clinch when hurt. It was a few years later as a bigger , stronger man at 154c that Hearns hit his prime.

Napoles was a big puncher and had a great chin. Look at the bombs he takes from Monzon without going down. I feel he could easily repeat Leonards performance against Hearn's . He was prone to cuts and that could be a problem.

 

Age is only a number in boxing. Surely you know that argument isn't going to do you any favors here?

At the time he took on Weston, I agree that he was pre-prime. I wasn't saying that he hit his prime the second he stepped in a boxing ring at the Welterweight limit. I was saying he eventually hit his prime at this weight, and showed a lot, if not most of, his best stuff there.

If by "difficult time" you mean winning every round en route to a 12th round stoppage in a 15 rounder, then sure. News flash, he was extended the distance by Luigi Manchillo and Ernie Singletary when he stepped up as well.

Leonard didn't really expose much, IMO. Hearns was dominating that fight when Leonard wasn't connecting with flush shots. It wasn't Hearns's stamina that let him down, it was Leonard's fists. Immediately after being hurt he applied the exact strategy necessary for regaining control of the bout. This didn't need an extra fight and years of experience, he showed in that fight that he was able to adapt on the fly and succeed at it. He lost that fight because Leonard simply wouldn't be denied that night. I don't see too many Welters dealing with Leonard the way Hearns was able to, nor do I see Hearns doing much better at 154.

 

Napoles KO13.

 

I dont see how Hearns having a hard time with Shields, which he didnt really, is such a negative.

Seeing as though Randy gave almost everyone a hard time and very often "extended" them, because thats what was required to best him.

 

as great and as menacing as Hearns was..he's no match for the great Mantequilla, and I remember him during his welter title reign, and he was peerless. Despite the possibility of cuts around the eyes, Napoles would have ko'ed Hearns in impressive fashion..as he was a rare, pinpoint accurate, lethal puncher who could and would find that opening he needed, and finish off Hearns far more emphatically, quicker and suddenly than did Leonard. Napoles ko8 Hearns.

 

Napoles by late TKO, provided he doesn't cut; I've always felt he had the perfect style to beat Hearns. His brilliant footwork and judgement of distance coupled with with the bobbing, weaving style he employed would place him in prime position to unload to both body and head with surgical accuracy.