I think the difference would be Laporte had a better defense. As usual, it would depend on whether the motivated version of Laporte showed up. If so, I think Laporte would win by late stoppage either on cuts or referee stoppage. If lethargic Laporte shows up, Lopez outhustles him for a decision. One thing for sure, Laporte is not getting stopped.
I think that this would be one fight that Lopez would have had to settle for getting a decision, and I think he would because of LaPorte's less than stellar output. I think Danny would have done enough to win on points, but Juan would have made it a rough evening for him all night long.
LaPorte gave Julio Caesar Chavez a great fight in loss. I was big Lopez fan, but realize he was big tv star, and sometimes they get a lot of easy fights. Lopez was more exciting, but Laporte was probably better.
I always thought LaPorte was a featherweight version of Joe Bugner. Tough as nails-could ship punishment all day-had all the tools in the world but you had to set a fire under their stools to get them going. That being said, Lopez would always have to be leery of that one haymaker like the one that took out Lockridge. At the end of the day I like Danny on points utilizing that under-appreciated jab of his.
Laporte had perhaps the worst finishing skills I've seen in a world-class fighter. Seeing as he didn't throw enough punches in the course of a round and no one ever saw Lopez flattened by a single punch............there ya go. Lopez by decision. Laporte had boxing's best chin, if nothing else. No one dents that thing.
Juan Laporte had much more punching power for a fighter of his weight than Joe Bugner, but I can understand why one would make a comparison between the two boxers. While in Las Vegas, I saw Laporte knock out Rocky Lockridge in the second round at the Showboat during the early 1980s. - Chuck Johnston
It might be too simple to describe this as the Punch (Lopez) vs the Chin (Laporte) because Laporte could box..and had is own Bomb if you left your chin out... Just look at the Rocky Lockridge fight for Confirmation Quite a few pushed Danny to the Precipice but just couldnt push him over the edge.. I think Juan can ..Danny is not that fast, would be coming onto Juan.. and has the very upright chin in the air Stance... it would be up to Juan to rouse himself to the effort, and i think provided with the menu of Target Danny would Provide.. he can Nail Danny coming in ..and for once finish the Job.. but it would be in his hands... Danny is complicit by presenting him with a perfect upright style..
