Absolutely loving this guys work at the moment...I had seen him a couple of times before over the years but in the last 6 months Ive got my hands on some good film of him and I think all you guys know what he is about. But looking at his pre Cokes resume...man he had some names. Beat Perkins just after he lost the title. Stopped Hernandez who then went on the beat Perkins and multiple belts for a year or two. Avenged both his losses by knockout in this period. Travelled extensively smashing a range of opponants from around the world. Some went on to challenge for world and european titles. But no title shot...not until he was 29 at welterweight...Anyone know the story here?
Obviously avoided at Light welter although he was getting plenty of fights. If you look at the Ring ratings he was 1,1 and 6 through 64 - 66. He probably could have done lightweight at this time. I'm only guessing here so I could be wrong . I think it was probably all down to who he was connected to because mid 68 he fought at the Inglewood Forum. This would of been a George Parnassus promotion and Parnassus did have some clout on the East coast and was bringing plenty of good Mexicans through. From here on all began to happen and the rest is history.
Thanks guys...You reckon he would have torn up the lightwelter champs of the time? Like Locche, Cervantes, Arcari, Adigue, Fuji et al?
The fellas who were champs at the time Napoles were rated at light welter were Perkins who Napoles beat Just after he'd lost the title to Carlos Hernandez. Napoles beat Hernandez just before he won the title from Perkins. I think it's safe to say that he was the No 1 lightwelter for quite a few years. The fighters you mentione are all a little bit after Napoles light welter days but I'd back him against Adigue and Fuji. I'd make him favorite over the other 3 but it all depends where the fights take place. Loche and Arcari could be very difficult in Argentina and Rome respectively. Cervantes would be hard anywhere.
The fellas who were champs at the time Napoles were rated at light welter were Perkins who Napoles beat Just after he'd lost the title to Carlos Hernandez. Napoles beat Hernandez just before he won the title from Perkins. I think it's safe to say that he was the No 1 lightwelter for quite a few years. The fighters you mentione are all a little bit after Napoles light welter days but I'd back him against Adigue and Fuji. I'd make him favorite over the other 3 but it all depends where the fights take place. Loche and Arcari could be very difficult in Argentina and Rome respectively. Cervantes would be hard anywhere.
I'd make Napoles a heavy favorite over Cervantes. He'd allow Napoles to fight at his own pace, which would likely result in Cervantes losing either a wide UD or being stopped late.
Don't know about that. DeJesus was no mug and he had no trouble with him. Story is that Duran's people didn't want anything to do with Cervantes and theyd seen him up close with the Peppermint Frazier fights.
Cervantes was a very formidable fighter, as technically sound as they came, but he lacked the versatility that Napoles posessed. Also, his choice of pace was similar to Napoles's choice of pace, steady and methodical. Anyone willing to play that game with Napoles is walking on thin ice. I don't think he'd be able to get a whole lot going against Napoles's smooth mixture of defense and potent offense.
Like I said before I would make Napoles favorite, Just closer than you. How do you see him against the other 2 on the road?
Barring a robbery I see him winning handily enough. Locche, while obviously being a defensive wizard, didn't have the offense to deal with Napoles IMO, and Arcari, while being a skilled boxer-puncher (and a southpaw) in his own right, was a level below Napoles the way I see it. I believe his straight right would play a big part in dismantling the Italian. As for Locche, I think he'd win the fight handily enough, but there's always the threat of a draw in Argentina due to their scoring system, as Carlos Ortiz found out when he beat Locche handily and came away with the draw.
I agree with you Pea, Napoles would be able to do more of his own thing against Cervantes, i like Cervantes, but that style he uses, i think Napoles would be slipping that jab, and as you say, using that as a platform to launch that potent offense, which was always hand in hand with them defensive moves. But yes, Cervantes poses more of a stylistic threat to Duran, good movement together with some solid shots, but Duran would take him for me. His rythm would come and he'd be slipping and doing inside work, you know......DURAN!