What are your thoughts on Napoles/Hearns? Opinions please.

I'll go with Napoles here. Late stoppage.

He has the ringsmarts and tools to not get ko'd early, which is the big risk in a Hearns fight. Once things settle in and get in the 7th round or so, I see Tommy's legs failing him from the effects of getting hit & absorbing punches. I think those great counters by Napoles become more effective as the bout goes on and Hearns will get moved by that first punch. The subsequent follow ups aren't going to catch air and will land clean while Hearns tries to reset his footwork and get in that comfy zone he liked to fight from. But it won't be there. Get Tommy off that pitchers mound and his coordination/balance in the second half of his bouts is hardly impressive. A guy like Napoles has the tools to do that and there just aren't that many guys that ever did much against Napoles when you combine that amatuer and pro record.

 

Some of the flush shots that Napoles landed that Monzon was impervious to would have had some effect on Hearns, as a matter of fact, you better believe they would have had some effect on Hearns. Accurate and deadly, Mantequilla would have been more profound against Tommy than was Leonard, even with Jose's susceptability to cut as well as his size disadvantage taken into consideration.

 

Unfortunately it's difficult not to see Napoles fighting with blood running into his eyes for large chunks of the fight.He'd get hit with a lot of jabs he won't see coming too well if he gets cut.

A tough fight no doubt, with Hearns Speed advantage and napoles tendency to cut costing him more often than not.

If Napoles was just a bit bit bigger and Quicker, with tougher skin i would pick him.

 

"Do you think he could land similar shots early on on Hearns?." I definitely dont think so. Maybe if Hearns came out stocking him, but in a h2h matchup we assume each fighter is fighting the perfect strategy. The easiest way or Hearns to win the fight would be for him to move, jab, and outbox Napoles. If Hearns fights this type of fight I don't think Napoles could land as much on Hearns due to his much faster hand and foot speed. I see a cut as almost inevitable in this fight due to Hearns' razor jab as well.

 

The welterweight Hearns was too young and inexperienced for Napoles ... I say Jose by KO ...

 

Hearns was 22 when he left the welter division. He was not in his physical prime. Other than the Cuevas blowout his biggest wins were at 154 .. Sweet Pea, are you saying you feel Hearns hit his prime at welter ? I say at 154 .. Bentiez through Duran ...

 

I believe Tommy's prime was at welterweight, regardless of age. I think Napoles is an amazing fighter, but I don't think he's better than Leonard and it took every bit of what Leonard had to beat Hearns. Leonard was a brutal puncher when he wanted to be and it took 14 rounds to get Tommy out. Leonard also held his hands higher and parried punches at times. Napoles fought with his hands low and relied on head movement. I think that's a bad recipe against Tommy. Napoles does remind me of a more offensive Benitez, but more offense against Tommy just puts you in harms way more. I'm seeing this as a bad matchup for Napoles. Tommy by late TKO (while being ahead on the scorecards).