Wilfred Benitez vs Jose Napoles

I would take Napoles by decision at 147. Just too complete and experienced for that version of benitez

 

Incredible technical fight. Napoles takes it with edge in experience in skill. Nobody ever beat prime Napoles. Backus as they say, borrowed the title on cuts. Benitez was beaten a few times in his prime.

 

This fight oozes with class and skills, but ultimately I’ll have to go with the more rounded fighter who has both slick defense and offense. Benitez would probably make Napoles miss a lot but I see Napoles outworking and even putting some hurt on Benítez.

 

At Welter it's a peak Napoles against a pre Peak Benitez and Napoles' greater battle hardened experience gives it to him for me for the reasons George has already given.
Smashing, classy, cerebral fight.

 

I'm siding with Benitez based on superior strength. I think this allows him to match Mantequilla's combinations with his own, but his would start to tell over the course of the encounter. I also see it settling into a scientific inside battle, which could prompt dangerous head clashes- so a stoppage in favor of Wilfred would not surprise.

 

Mouthwatering matchup here, George. Great job. I have to go with Mantequilla as his offence is better. Benitez will make him miss more than once but Jose would land enough.

 

I just noticed nobody has chosen Wilfred.

 

Napoles. He is the more developed and experience practitioner of Benitez's own style. Benitez is stronger, but Napoles had a higher ring IQ at his peak in comparison to this version of Benitez. Napoles' own scythe-like power, baiting movement and punch threading would also keep Wilfredo honest and confused, though his defense would cause Napoles quite a lot of trouble early before he begins to adapt.

A mouthwatering fight, which Napoles would win a competitive but relatively clear fight as it goes on. I can understand people picking Benitez due to Napoles trouble against stylist Lewis, but I think Benitez's size and strength is his best asset here, which he didn't really employ as well in comparison to his 154lb self.

 

Another Napolis vote. Was just watching his first bout with Lewis last evening

 

Benitez has the athleticism to cause any fighter in history problems, but you could see in the Leonard fight that as well as he looked at times, at others he can be backed up and tagged and can be countered himself.

I think Napoles would lose a couple of early rounds whilst he tried to figure out how he's going to outbox a guy as slick as Benitez, but then after that I say his silky smooth timing allows him to start picking away at Benitez, before taking over down the stretch and pounding out a victory.

But I reckon there would be enough footage to put together an awesome highlight clip of Benitez making Napoles look a fool and if the full version of the fight ever got damaged, people would point to these highlights for the rest of history swearing blind that Benitez was robbed.

 

Benitez chin was suspect. This doesn't last long.