Roberto Duran vs Jose Napoles(welterweight)

Arcel also said Duran was perfect at welterweight, he also said Duràn was basically starving himself to remain at lightweight. Duràn also said that .
Just because Napoles was a little taller, which is very debatable in this case, or a little rangier, doesn't mean he was a better welterweight than Duràn.
Most sports writers and trainers of that era knew Napoles best fighting weight was lightweight. The only reason he left that weight class was because he couldn't get fights there. He simply was far superior and they ducked him.
Napoles was a small welterweight, and yes smaller than Duràn weight wise,
Sure Napoles had a much better / longer run at welterweight. But he also lost quite a few fights against very suspect competition.
Fighters he'd literally would've destroyed at lightweight.
Napoles was barely above welterweight when he faced Monzon for Pete's sake. ( It's the reason I don't give Monzon much credit for beating him , a well past prime natural lightweight)
Where Duran when focused was effective all the up to super middle.
The only thing bizarre is you used that word TBH.

 

I think its close as in could go either way. I'll be the lone vote for Napoles in a SD . He proved how tough he was hanging with Monzon while it lasted giving up 15 pounds or so to him. Napoles was a surgeon.

 

Excellent deduction.

 

His losses are due, almost entirely, to his paper-thin skin tearing at the hint of a breeze, not because of his boxing ability or lack of physicality. And the only fight he lost at welter in his prime was on a cut against Billy Backus which he later avenged in dominant fashion. He lost more fights at super-lightweight and lightweight than he did at welterweight, so I don't really know what you're on about. Napoles was an exceptional ring talent and was an average sized welter for his era anyway. He was probably at his absolute zenith during his super-lightweight days admittedly considering he was beaten twice during his brief stint at lightweight by Alfredo Urbina and a contentious decision loss against journeyman Tony Perez. Even still though, he was a decently sized welter and put out some of his best performances at the weight.
Duran had the bigger frame and was more comfortable packing on the pounds because his style didn't rely as much as Napoles' did on speed and outfoxing opponents. Yet Napoles very clearly has the better accomplishments at welter and was more soundly in his prime at the weight for far longer than Duran.
Napoles was ducked by the super-lightweight champion Sandro Lopopolo for reference, not by any of the lightweight champs afaik.
Duran was focussed and in shape against a similarly-styled Latin American slickter in Benitez and lost, I think Napoles is a bad style for Duran irrespective of who was the bigger man quite honestly.

 

I admittedly haven’t seen a ton of Napoles (some clips plus Monzon and Backus fights) so at the risk of making myself look stupid (and please point me to where I can see better examples of what everyone gets excited about) … but he just doesn’t seem as slick to me as his nickname and reputation would suggest.

What I see is an outstanding offensive fighter. Speed, combinations and seems to have some pop, but he’s not that hard to hit off my limited viewing sample.

I think Duran fights him more like he did DeJesus the third time or Hagler/Barkley — using his mad skills and counterpunching ability to break Napoles down (Hagler and Barkley are just so much naturally bigger) and outworking him to a handy decision (provided there’s not a cut stoppage).

 

Id actually agree, he isn't quite as slick defensively as you'd expect from a guy called Butter, and I personally wouldn't say he has a better defence than Duran; but I always took his nickname to be more a product of his immaculate rhythm and crisp combos/technique.

Just a simple, Hanza special. His defence is very good, but he isn't as unhittable on offense as you'd expect.

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Absolutely dismantling of an underrated fighter. Could be near the end of both of their careers, though, I'm not sure. The first fight is available too and that's just as clear of a drumming.

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This is his best filmed performance, and an absolute domination.

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Another one of his best performances, albeit against an opponent he should be dominating.

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There's some other fun/interesting fights too, such as the Muniz fights, Stracey fight and an especially interesting fight is the Hedgemon Lewis fight.

 

Thank you. Upon seeing you post it, I realized I had seen the Cokes fight some time ago and it’s a masterclass performance.

I don’t want my previous post to be seen as questioning Napoles’ greatness nor abilities — it was specific to his defense not lining up with what I’d pictured from a guy nicknamed Butter nor how I’ve seen him written about. Wilfred Benitez to me is smoother and better defensively, although certainly not on par with Jose’s offense.

Absolutely a great fighter, but in this case I think Duran is better defensively and has a more varied offense and general versatility.