Napa fighting for the European title tonight

It was actually 7/4 on second check

Paddy Power online right before the fight itself

:good

 

I gave him possibly the second or third, I can't remember. But I had it by 3 overall too. I find it difficult to see how one guy found it a draw.

Jim Watt must be blind these days. His commentary on the fight was inept. Why was he constantly whining because Napa didn't march forward and tee off? As if that has ever been his game, a 5'1 guy with the strength of a strawweight.

There is no problem in Napa fighting off the ropes, he has the perfect style to do so. The tactics were correct, Ballone wasted all his energy hitting air and elbows. Then Napa came into the fight with body shots taking the wind out of him further. Great stuff.

The punch stats were dodgy as **** too. If Ballone was really landing all those shots he would have made an impression on the little man. I remember one really good shot, and then the occasional unorthodox lead from the southpaw stance that caused problems. The rest were blocked easily.

 

I had it a draw but I gave the swing rounds to Ballone since he was the champion. Napa started very slow and Ballone was only fighting in spurts early on but did enough to clinch the rounds.

Napa clearly took over the second half of the fight though he dropped the final two eounds IMO and earned a draw. Can't complain with you having Napa by 3 though. I'll watch it again and see how I score it again.

 

Totally agree with you on this TFFP.
Jim Watt is a moaning old fart and should go away and never come back. I can't remember watching a fight he has commented on where he wasn't whining on about why a fighter isn't doing this or that.

I reckon he took too many punches in the old days and is still a bit dizzy....:!:

 

I blame Arguello myself!

 

Scored it again and had it 115-113. I watched it on a stream last night and the Ballone's flurries when he had Napa pinned against the ropes looked really impressive. However, I downloaded the fight and watched it on a better quality video and Napa basically outclassed Ballone and those flurries on the ropes were being blocked.

Also watched it with no sound this time as well. Napa was a clear winner and well deserved. He controlled distance extremly well with his jab and didn't allow Ballone to impose his physical strength on him. Napa's defence on the inside was impeccible was always getting the better of the exchanges.

My scorecard from the first view seems a bit dodgy now.

 

Congratulations to Ian Dappa Napa. I was at ringside when he lost his previous effort for the European title. He is a very game lad and a real gentleman. Who says nice guys cannot make it in this great game.

 

:good

The mini James Toney put on a defensive exhibition. He has the best defence in Britain, and is a top 3 inside fighter with Calzaghe and maybe Hatton if I'm being generous to him.

Those flurries all hit gloves, arms, elbows, shoulders, air...everything. Ballone caused more problems in the middle of the ring, contrary to Watt's commentary.

 

He looks quite a bit like Calderon in your avatar, another defensive genius. I agree that Napa's infighting is brilliant and he has underrated power.

 

The power seems to be improving a bit. I think its more the precision of the body shots though. Body shots will always get the job done if they are accurate. I still can't see Napa knocking too many guys out by headhunting :yep

That is Napa in my avatar :good

 

Yeah, that's what I mean, Napa looks a bit like Calderon(well to me anyway)

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I suppose he does.

If only Napa fought with this consistency when he was a flyweight, or if he could get down to a weight which his dimensions would suggest he should be fighting at...I think he could be world class too.