Roberto Duran 1980 vs Jose Mantequilla Napoles 1972, 147 lbs, 15 rounds.

I cant pick a winner, all I know is it would be one of the most skillful battles of all time.

 

Mantequilla takes this one. Prime Duran is at 135.

 

And yet... Duran managed to clearly beat the man who most consider the second greatest welterweight of all time.

Your post makes no sense.

 

Do you think Mantequilla is as dumb as SSL to brawl with Duran?
Even Benitez beat him 18 months after Duran's biggest win of this career

 

Assuming this is the Duran that turned up for the Leonard fight, I'd pick him but only because Napoles, as brilliant as he still was in 1972, was probably not quite as good as he had been in his first title reign (1969-70). If it was that Napoles, I'd probably favour him slightly. But either version would make for an amazing fight.

Interesting fight in that both were probably in their absolute physical primes at lower weights (Duran at lightweight; Napoles at light-welter) but Napoles has the greater overall pedigree at welterweight though.

 

Napoles didn't have the physical tools of Leonard to move on Duran even if he wanted to. Mantequilla never faced a guy with the quickness and DEFENSE of Montreal Duran.... in Duran he would find the one fighter who could actually counter him effectively.

And in this matchup you can't debate that "Duran was a lightweight", cause in reality, so was Napoles.

Both of them were small at 147, yet found success regardless because of how good they were.

Duran's the one who found success at HIGHER weights though. Unless you could envision Napoles lasting the distance with a prime Hagler, and beating a man as big as Barkley (I can't).

 

I think Napoles was better than Leonard.
He'd probably win a close decision against Duran.
I'd have the 1960s version of Napoles though. He was already on the slide by 1972.

 

Duran lost to Benitez and looking at the film, Mantequilla is a lot smoother than Benitez.

 

This would be one of the most gorgeous, and brutal, fights ever seen. A complete blend of aggressive defence.

I think Durán was slightly more skilled, stronger and overall a much more physical specimen. However, Napoles has some of the smoothest moves ever, he could take the highest level of world champions apart and make it look easy. He has a chance vs anyone in history, but I've got Cholo here.

 

Napoles and Benitez were completely different fighters with different styles.

Napoles was better offensively. Benitez was better defensively.

I might add that Benitez beat Duran at 154, not 147. Benitez was big and solid at 154, and I have no doubt would have beaten Napoles at that weight as well.

 

Duran UD or maybe he busts him open for a Dr Stoppage either way Duran wins.

 

One can imagine the sheer violence and incredible display of skills from both fighters. Napoles would give it his all and bring the heat to Duran, but I think Duran would ultimately overpower Napoles and win by decision or late stoppage.

 

At 147, Jose Napoles wins. So many smooth moves, and too difficult to get going against. Duran rallies in the championship rounds but Napoles has dominated most of the early and middle rounds for a UD

 

Very close fight and very hard to choose a decisive winner. On one hand you have Napoles who was one of the most proven welters of all time and spent more time in that weight class than Duran did. On the other hand you have Duran who although has few fights there, beaten two greats in Ray Leonard and Carlos Palamino PLUS won titles in higher weight divisions.

Not sure but I’m leaning towards Duran.