Jose Napoles vs. Kid Gavilan

[Othro]

Over 15 rounds at 147 pounds.

I know Napoles' best weight was probably 140 but personally I believe he is a top 5 welterweight and aside from a cuts loss I could see him winning a decision .

[Ezzard]

You can call it wither way. These guys were both such great fighters there is no real definitive answer.

[elmersalsa]

The great Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles' peak came when he beat merciless, tough veteran champ Curtis Cokes in fight #1. He was in his 30s when we finally saw him into action. I could not see that version beating the great Kid Gavilan. No way.

[No Tomorrow]

Gavilan in a war

[DaveyMac]

Gavilan always fought close fights with big fighters. Awhile back I was counting up how many MD's and SD's fighters had and how they fared in them and Gavilan had one of the very highest amounts. I think he was 14-10 in MD's and SD's and he had 5 draws as well. I'm not looking at the chart right now but it was something close to that.

So I think it would be a close fight, but that being said I think Napoles is just a tiny bit better than Gavilan in almost every way. More power, quicker, better, I think maybe the only thing I'd give Gavilan over him is his chin. But then again I think they are very very close, so my guess is this fight is a Split Decision win for Napoles.


ETA- I went back and looked at my SD/MD list and Napoles was sort of the exact reverse of Gavilan in this respect being 0-1 in SD/MD's

[gilgamesh]

You can call it wither way. These guys were both such great fighters there is no real definitive answer.

Agreed

[dempseyfire]

Napoles faster than Gavilan? Huh?

It would be close but I pick the Kid . . his quick combinations/greater output would win him the day.