Latin Welterweight Tourney: Semi: Wifred Benitez . Vs. Jose Napoles

Both amazing fighters. Equals in defence but I think Napoles has more coming forward and would eventually get the better of Benitez. Napoles was just a bit better and had a bit more power. Napoles UD.

 

Both slick fighters defensively, but Napoles clearly superior offensively. Jose's power is the difference here. Napoles by UD or late TKO.

 

I can't agree that they were equals defensively. Benitez was clearly the better of the two in the regard. You could argue that it only appeared that way due to Napoles's more offensively oriented style compared to Benitez's more cautious approach, but Napoles never really showed me the radar that Benitez did. He was a very smooth operator with great anticipation, but you can't match El Radar in that respect. What sways this bout toward Napoles is his far superior offensive skill-set.

 

Napoles had a smoother blend of power/skill, with the moves that earned him his nickname...as much as I love Benitez, Napoles by a one punch knockout while Wilfred is where he usually has a safe haven, on the ropes...one punch..as accurate and deadly as a fer-de-lance. Believe me Napoles could be explosively deadly, just reference the Lopez rematch.

 

Napoles UD...though one judge has him relatively wide and the other two have only a point or so in it.

Could see wide discrepancies in this one...but I only see one winner down the stretch.

 

this was close but im going with Napoloes for the same reasons as the rest of you mentione

 

Naples wins a Close SD...Benitez boxes well and Naples also in this chess match, A cut hinders Jose but he landed the more powerful shots to edge out a squeeker

 

If Leonard was able to deck Wilfred, believe me Napoles was deadlier and would have scored a knockout, and like I say, a one punch knockout...Napoles could if ANYBODY could, and even with Benitez in his safe haven of the ropes. Bear in mind, I'm not denigrating or underrating Benitez here..in fact, I've posted many times with praise on his behalf, but Napoles was, when in his prime, a deadly accurate, repeat DEADLY accurate puncher, who could grind you into dog food, like he did Curtis Cokes twice, or land a single punch on you to ruin your night, as he did Ernie Lopez in their rematch (a right hand), and Lopez was a very rugged customer. As was pointed out in articles on Mantequilla in the very good boxing magazines of the 70's, he was extarordinarily capable of snaking an accurate, very hard shot through the best guard an opponent could put up. I simply think that he could have pulled the trigger on El Radar in a way no one else would have been able to do.

 

I like Napoles here in a fight not a million miles away from the Leonard fight

Both guys take the middle of the ring just out of range. Lots of missing.

ill be back later to explain

 

''Mantequilla'' could do and had it all. He was elusive, fast, calm, excellent at picking and timing punchers and had phantom-like reflexes and a superb left hook. He started at Featherweight, excelled at Lightweight, beat several top Junior Welterweights and finally got his overdue title shot at Welterweight, in his 60th bout, when he only weighed 143lb, he stopped Curtis Cokes for the Title.

Benitez at his best could avoid punchers and attacks effortlessly, slipping, ducking, weaving, sliding, or picking them out of the air. He was a fast puncher, whose accuracy and timing secured him 31 Ko's in 62 pro bouts.

At 17 he became the youngest ever Titleholder by beating fellow ATG Antonio Cervantes for the WBA Jr Welterweight Title. The problem with Benitez do is that one day he would be breath taking and the next medicore. He also neglected traning and was seldom in peak shape.

Against Napoles, Benitez would have to be at his 110% best. I can imagine this fight to be a tactical battle, both using alot of feints, both using the magical skills aswell as there timing and accuracy. Napoles had paper skin, something which could give Benitez the edge.

It's a pretty hard one to pick, but I edge towards Napoles.

 

Napoles for me, he might syop his man and he has the versatility to not play into the hands of Benitez.