Leonard may rate higher than Napoles overall because he accomplished more, however, strictly as welterweights it would have been an interesting tussle with perhaps the edge going to Mantequilla. I've seen most of their fights and both were greats. I agree that Leonard ranks amongst the greatest ever but Napoles isn't far behind. Again, at 147 I like Napoles.
He was actually better at LW,and, I think he could've fought with Leonard or Duran. Ortiz was another fighter that could have given Duran a tussle at LW.
que desafortunado que no halla ningún comentario en español al gran Canelo que peleo con los mejores pero jamas le dieron oportunidad por el campeonato mundial, le ganó a los mejores entre éllos al matequilla napoles a ultiminio ramos, al morocho ortiz, al baby vazquez entre otros, letenian miedo y por eso no se le enfrentaban si tienen mas peleas del Canelo por favor súbanlos gracias
que desafortunado que no halla ningún comentario en español al gran Canelo que peleo con los mejores pero jamas le dieron oportunidad por el campeonato mundial, le ganó a los mejores entre éllos al matequilla napoles a ultiminio ramos, al morocho ortiz, al baby vazquez entre otros, letenian miedo y por eso no se le enfrentaban si tienen mas peleas del Canelo por favor súbanlos gracias
@marcoso1000 efectivamente grandes guerreros que se ganaban sus sueldos con verdaderos expectaculos, para derrotar al canelo urbina se necesitaba ser muy grande,los anos del boxeo de infinita calidad quedaron atras desde los 70s, los muchachos de hoy dejan mucho que desear para considerarlos verdaderos guerreros de los cuadrilateros. mi opinion personal saludos desde matamoros,tam. mex.
I agree with West. Napoles uses a technique known as smothering. This technique involves using punches to divert or to stop oncoming punches. Napoles, like many boxers of that time, was a master of that technique. Bob Foster, another boxer who some thought was 'slow,' was a master of that technique. Foster used this technique to perfection when he knocked out Bobby Quarry. The final blow of that bout was in fact a left hook thrown over a smothered right hand.
I agree with West. Napoles uses a technique known as smothering. This technique involves using punches to divert or to stop oncoming punches. Napoles, like many boxers of that time, was a master of that technique. Bob Foster, another boxer who some thought was 'slow,' was a master of that technique. Foster used this technique to perfection when he knocked out Bobby Quarry. The final blow of that bout was in fact a left hook thrown over a smothered right hand.
Can you smother another fighters punches that is faster than you? I don't think Napoles smothers Leonard punches because you can smother what you can see.
@tw69hands2 hmm what you call smothering i call countering if your a master countering of course your not gonna let the other fighters punches really hit you but youll throw inbetween them
A counterpunch happens when boxer #1 evades the blow(s) of boxer #2 with minimal or no physical contact and boxer #1 land a punch cleanly on boxer #2.
Watch it a little closer, he really doesn't get hit with any clean punches, he uses subtle head movement to avoid the head shots and twists his body and catches shots on the gloves to avoid the bodywork of Urbina. Napoles along with guys like Monzon and Saldivar is a fighter who you really have to watch closely to appreciate his ability, it's not as apparent to the naked eye as a guy like Robinson or Leonard.
Watch the way the Napoles uses the technique of smearing and smothering Urbina's punches. Napoles used an old technique from the golden age. He could use an up-jab to stop his opponent's jab or a left hook to intercept his opponent's hook. He could use his left or right hands to do this. This kept one hand free to punch at all times. As a result, he could avoid punches and attack at the same time without having to slip punches.
I believe Napoles would have beaten Leonard had they met in their prime, and I saw both fight live. I was at the Duran v Leonard fight in Montreal, and I saw Napoles fight Clyde Gray in Toronto in 1973.
Leonard only has a two inch reach advantage. Great discussion guys.
He was a phenom at both Lightweight and Jr. Welter, probably not significantly better at one than the other. I think a stand-up classic boxer like Cervantes is ideal for a smooth, versatile stylist like Napoles to disect. See his performances against Curtis Cokes at WW for prime examples. Cervantes never fared too well against the slicksters and defensive stylists, as Locche and Benitez attested to.
Agreed on your assesment on his fight with Cervantes, I just think at JW he wouldn't have to drain, though I never heard of him having trouble to make weight it just seemed sensible to me.
Did you hear about Ernie Lopez dying, he gave Napoles two tough fights, I don't have those fights but I have his third fight with Hedgemon Lewis and will post it soon.
R.I.P. Indian Red. A true warrior, just like his brother Danny. Napoles was his superior through and through, but the guy could put up a fight with any man he stepped in the ring with. That was just the kind of fighter he was. Never ones to back down or get intimidated, either of the Lopez brothers.
I have heard people talk about Napoles saying that he would not have a chance a guy like Leonard because of the speed difference but his combination of power, accuracy and timing would give any welterweight in history a night in hell, he barely missed a punch and was never caught with a punch clean in this whole fight, even Leonard didn't have the pure boxing skill that Napoles had.
This bout was at LW though, which was in reality Napoles's prime and natural weight class. He only moved up because he wasn't getting the shots he deserved at 135 and 140. None of the champions wanted anything to do with him. At 147, while still one of the best Welters in history, he was a bit too lacking in size and speed to beat a guy like Leonard, IMO. I agree on the technical aspects though, in that regard Mantequilla was matched by few.
He lost his explosiveness early into his welterweight title reign but he could still sneak in a very fast punch every once in awhile, especially with his left hook. I am not saying he would beat Leonard but I don't really see size coming into play because Leonard wasn't really a mauler or inside fighter by trade and you had to draw him into that fight. I was just pointing out that where guys like Leonard had flash Napoles had schooling and better technique.
Leonard's speed and reach would allow him to dictate the distance, that was my point. Leonard proved his technical efficiency against Benitez very well, IMO.
Leonard may rate higher than Napoles overall because he accomplished more, however, strictly as welterweights it would have been an interesting tussle with perhaps the edge going to Mantequilla. I've seen most of their fights and both were greats. I agree that Leonard ranks amongst the greatest ever but Napoles isn't far behind. Again, at 147 I like Napoles.
Fistiana7 4 months ago
Napoles era un gran boxeador.
7rancisco1 1 year ago
He was actually better at LW,and, I think he could've fought with Leonard or Duran. Ortiz was another fighter that could have given Duran a tussle at LW.
kirby19711 1 year ago
que desafortunado que no halla ningún comentario en español al gran Canelo que peleo con los mejores pero jamas le dieron oportunidad por el campeonato mundial, le ganó a los mejores entre éllos al matequilla napoles a ultiminio ramos, al morocho ortiz, al baby vazquez entre otros, letenian miedo y por eso no se le enfrentaban si tienen mas peleas del Canelo por favor súbanlos gracias
marcoso1000 1 year ago
que desafortunado que no halla ningún comentario en español al gran Canelo que peleo con los mejores pero jamas le dieron oportunidad por el campeonato mundial, le ganó a los mejores entre éllos al matequilla napoles a ultiminio ramos, al morocho ortiz, al baby vazquez entre otros, letenian miedo y por eso no se le enfrentaban si tienen mas peleas del Canelo por favor súbanlos gracias
marcoso1000 1 year ago
@marcoso1000 efectivamente grandes guerreros que se ganaban sus sueldos con verdaderos expectaculos, para derrotar al canelo urbina se necesitaba ser muy grande,los anos del boxeo de infinita calidad quedaron atras desde los 70s, los muchachos de hoy dejan mucho que desear para considerarlos verdaderos guerreros de los cuadrilateros. mi opinion personal saludos desde matamoros,tam. mex.
MrJvt51 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I agree with West. Napoles uses a technique known as smothering. This technique involves using punches to divert or to stop oncoming punches. Napoles, like many boxers of that time, was a master of that technique. Bob Foster, another boxer who some thought was 'slow,' was a master of that technique. Foster used this technique to perfection when he knocked out Bobby Quarry. The final blow of that bout was in fact a left hook thrown over a smothered right hand.
tw69hands2 1 year ago
I agree with West. Napoles uses a technique known as smothering. This technique involves using punches to divert or to stop oncoming punches. Napoles, like many boxers of that time, was a master of that technique. Bob Foster, another boxer who some thought was 'slow,' was a master of that technique. Foster used this technique to perfection when he knocked out Bobby Quarry. The final blow of that bout was in fact a left hook thrown over a smothered right hand.
tw69hands2 1 year ago
@tw69hands2
Can you smother another fighters punches that is faster than you? I don't think Napoles smothers Leonard punches because you can smother what you can see.
mdmcdd1117 7 months ago
@mdmcdd1117:
Yup. You can do that. Watch Bob Foster. If you're fast enough to get your guard up, then you're fast enough to execute the technique.
tw69hands2 4 months ago
@tw69hands2 hmm what you call smothering i call countering if your a master countering of course your not gonna let the other fighters punches really hit you but youll throw inbetween them
liljoker123456 6 months ago
@liljoker123456:
A counterpunch happens when boxer #1 evades the blow(s) of boxer #2 with minimal or no physical contact and boxer #1 land a punch cleanly on boxer #2.
tw69hands2 4 months ago
@liljoker123456 you can also counter in between punches by timing a opponents blow and punching him first and napoles was a fine defensive fighter
liljoker123456 4 months ago
Are those six ounce gloves ?
xxdonaldqxx 1 year ago
Napoles looks like an aggressive swinger here. His own head is wide open.
marcxopoco 2 years ago
Watch it a little closer, he really doesn't get hit with any clean punches, he uses subtle head movement to avoid the head shots and twists his body and catches shots on the gloves to avoid the bodywork of Urbina. Napoles along with guys like Monzon and Saldivar is a fighter who you really have to watch closely to appreciate his ability, it's not as apparent to the naked eye as a guy like Robinson or Leonard.
West91491 2 years ago
@marcxopoco You sound like you don't really know what you're watching here.
Mowglieboy69 2 years ago
Watch the way the Napoles uses the technique of smearing and smothering Urbina's punches. Napoles used an old technique from the golden age. He could use an up-jab to stop his opponent's jab or a left hook to intercept his opponent's hook. He could use his left or right hands to do this. This kept one hand free to punch at all times. As a result, he could avoid punches and attack at the same time without having to slip punches.
tw69hands2 2 years ago
I believe Napoles would have beaten Leonard had they met in their prime, and I saw both fight live. I was at the Duran v Leonard fight in Montreal, and I saw Napoles fight Clyde Gray in Toronto in 1973.
Leonard only has a two inch reach advantage. Great discussion guys.
MrGG1959 2 years ago 5
IMO Napoles would of been at his best at junior welterweight, it would of been great to see him box another great technician like Cervantes.
West91491 2 years ago
He was a phenom at both Lightweight and Jr. Welter, probably not significantly better at one than the other. I think a stand-up classic boxer like Cervantes is ideal for a smooth, versatile stylist like Napoles to disect. See his performances against Curtis Cokes at WW for prime examples. Cervantes never fared too well against the slicksters and defensive stylists, as Locche and Benitez attested to.
Mowglieboy69 2 years ago
Agreed on your assesment on his fight with Cervantes, I just think at JW he wouldn't have to drain, though I never heard of him having trouble to make weight it just seemed sensible to me.
Did you hear about Ernie Lopez dying, he gave Napoles two tough fights, I don't have those fights but I have his third fight with Hedgemon Lewis and will post it soon.
West91491 2 years ago
R.I.P. Indian Red. A true warrior, just like his brother Danny. Napoles was his superior through and through, but the guy could put up a fight with any man he stepped in the ring with. That was just the kind of fighter he was. Never ones to back down or get intimidated, either of the Lopez brothers.
Mowglieboy69 2 years ago
I have heard people talk about Napoles saying that he would not have a chance a guy like Leonard because of the speed difference but his combination of power, accuracy and timing would give any welterweight in history a night in hell, he barely missed a punch and was never caught with a punch clean in this whole fight, even Leonard didn't have the pure boxing skill that Napoles had.
West91491 2 years ago
This bout was at LW though, which was in reality Napoles's prime and natural weight class. He only moved up because he wasn't getting the shots he deserved at 135 and 140. None of the champions wanted anything to do with him. At 147, while still one of the best Welters in history, he was a bit too lacking in size and speed to beat a guy like Leonard, IMO. I agree on the technical aspects though, in that regard Mantequilla was matched by few.
Mowglieboy69 2 years ago
He lost his explosiveness early into his welterweight title reign but he could still sneak in a very fast punch every once in awhile, especially with his left hook. I am not saying he would beat Leonard but I don't really see size coming into play because Leonard wasn't really a mauler or inside fighter by trade and you had to draw him into that fight. I was just pointing out that where guys like Leonard had flash Napoles had schooling and better technique.
West91491 2 years ago
Leonard's speed and reach would allow him to dictate the distance, that was my point. Leonard proved his technical efficiency against Benitez very well, IMO.
Mowglieboy69 2 years ago