52 fight challenge: Week 5 - John H. Stracey vs Jose Napoles

[Horse]

John H. Stracey vs Jose Napoles:

https://youtu.be/12kkRKzE9bo
https://youtu.be/BR2VKYXopAA
https://youtu.be/fvpZ-oUbVmU

Watch and discuss.

[Horse]

Recent weeks' fights:

Week 4 - Jim Watt vs Alexis Arguello: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197596
Week 3 - Lloyd Honeyghan vs Donald Curry: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197431
Week 2 - Chris Eubank vs Michael Watson I: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197276
Week 1 - Joe Calzaghe vs Robin Reid: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197126


British & Irish boxing 52 fight history knowledge challenge thread: http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=197079

[dookus]

Stracey's jab was imperious in that fight - he did a fantastic job of imposing his strength on Napoles from the third round on. After the left hook that put Napoles down the momentum was all one way.

[Horse]

I had it 48-45 Stracey, before the finish.

Like dookus said: Stracey's jab was very impressive. I didn't like Carpenter's commentary, he wasn't giving Stracey enough credit.

Stracey hitting Napoles twice when he was down should have resulted in at least one point being taken off him. There was no need for that.

[Neil Gee]

Stracey was so focused that day it was like the rules and the ref were just getting in his way, too much youth, determination and aggression for Napole's ageing legs. He did what he had to do and he did it superbly.

John H was my first boxing hero, but like a lot of new champions he found it easier to get motivated on the way up than he did to stay there. Stracey admitted as much himself. Still, I never forgave Palomino for beating him.

[handsofstone]

Great win and an eventful fight for the short time it lasted,the combination that Napoles put Stracey down with in in the 1st was beautiful from both hands and the KD that Stracey scored was the most glancing blow ive ever seen to score a KD,no doubt Jose was hurt though,the legs dont lie

Great win,like the Honeyghan-Curry fight im glad ive finally watched it

[dookus]

the KD that Stracey scored was the most glancing blow ive ever seen to score a KD,no doubt Jose was hurt though,the legs dont lie

Yep. Great example of the damage a temple shot can do, which is why the left hook is always a dangerous punch - even when seemingly out of range.

[Counter-puncher]

This fight saddens me to watch, a little. Its that one where the great Cham is in that one fight too many, albeit coming off two wins over Armando muniz and one over hedgemon Lewis, I believe, id say Napoles' formline was pretty good going into the fight.

I think its pretty clear that Stracey would take a beating from a Napoles even 2 or 3 years closer to peak,Napoles looks fleshy around the face and old, still shows some lovely skills early. Straceys jab excellent like you say gents, a strong and consistent weapon.

As for stracey? Again I think a good point that he couldn't stay as motivated once he reached the top, but the beating palomino put on him would come close to finishing most fighters at the top level IMO.

[davie]

Quite obvious this was a solid young fighter beating a very worn down champion.
It was a good performance from Stracey, stuck to his gameplan and wore Napoles down, the damage to the face of the former champion was telling but I'll have to go watch some of Mantequillos fights from his prime to compare just how far that version was from the ATG welterweight I've read about.
Think I'll go watch the Emile Griffiths fight and maybe the Ralph Charles fight at Wembley (possibly one for us here to watch.)

But back to this fight, Napoles got off to a good start, won the first couple and scored a knockdown, but I suspect even at that, he didn't really show too much of his very best. Stracey took over in the 3rd, worked that jab consistently into Napoles face, some nice straight shots and fought in the stereotypical British upright style
Also matched Napoles on the inside when needed and looked strong.

A good over all performance and despite Napoles being past his best must go down as one of the great British wins, to beat a man of that calibre in his back yard.

The shots landed in the third when Napoles was on the ground were poor and should definitely have seen a point of.

[handsofstone]

Napoles sure did look class 1st couple of rounds,ive only ever seen the Monzon fight befroe this,he started well in that too from what i remember before Carlos caught up with him

[davie]

Napoles sure did look class 1st couple of rounds,ive only ever seen the Monzon fight befroe this,he started well in that too from what i remember before Carlos caught up with him

Slightly different case there.
Stepping up to middleweight to fight arguably the best MW all time (not for me but for a few over on BOTP)

[handsofstone]

Napoles sure did look class 1st couple of rounds,ive only ever seen the Monzon fight befroe this,he started well in that too from what i remember before Carlos caught up with him

Slightly different case there.
Stepping up to middleweight to fight arguably the best MW all time (not for me but for a few over on BOTP)

Agreed Monzon was a monster,a big ask for Napoles

[davie]

Napoles sure did look class 1st couple of rounds,ive only ever seen the Monzon fight befroe this,he started well in that too from what i remember before Carlos caught up with him

Slightly different case there.
Stepping up to middleweight to fight arguably the best MW all time (not for me but for a few over on BOTP)

Agreed Monzon was a monster,a big ask for Napoles

Indeed, which is partly why some don't rate Monzon no1. The best names he fought were largely welterweight guys like Napoles and Griffiths

[Counter-puncher]

Back to napoles, when you watch his peak stuff, its pretty hard to imagine any welter not named sugar ray beating him.

I certainly think he'd knock out Hearns and beat Mayweather, FWIW. The slips and counters and subtle pressure with his feet would be too much for Hearns and i think he'd have the same kind of success with mayweather that Leonard would- too big and hard hitting to go with the fact that mayweathrr wouldn't have a pronounced skill or speed advantage.

the Duran who beat Leonard would give napoles a fight for the ages, for sure. The best version of curry is an interesting match.

But other than the names mentioned I don't see many I would even consider beating Napoles. He'd take just about every round off Trinidad, for example, IMO.

[davie]

Back to napoles, when you watch his peak stuff, its pretty hard to imagine any welter not named sugar ray beating him.

I certainly think he'd knock out Hearns and beat Mayweather, FWIW. The slips and counters and subtle pressure with his feet would be too much for Hearns and i think he'd have the same kind of success with mayweather that Leonard would- too big and hard hitting to go with the fact that mayweathrr wouldn't have a pronounced skill or speed advantage.

the Duran who beat Leonard would give napoles a fight for the ages, for sure. The best version of curry is an interesting match.

But other than the names mentioned I don't see many I would even consider beating Napoles. He'd take just about every round off Trinidad, for example, IMO.

So, not a bad fighter then?

[Counter-puncher]

Oh yes. So balanced and smooth he could invite shots, slip or roll them and counter with two or three powerful shots,slip or roll the counters off those shots and counter back again.

You know arlovski who posts on here and the video analysis he does? Search his posts, he does one on monzon vs napoles, shows why both were so great very well.

Napoles was poetic at his best. I'll try to think but stylewise no comparison comes immediately to mind, maybe a more offensive minded Benitez who focussed less on the jab and more on power shots and combinations, that's the best comparison I can think of and his record was way better than benitez's.

[garethhop]

Never seen this before so thanks again to this challenge for improving my knowledge.

Stracey looks solid. And despite the champion ageing before your eyes, it has to go down as an excellent win.

Really wets the appetite before Brook vs Bizier doesn't it?

[PredatorHayds]

Great win. Straceys Jab was fantastic.

It was alarming how quick Napoles eyes blew up. Completely changed the fight.

Stracey hitting him when he was down was poor but the ref was surprisingly lenient.

Napoles was a true great and easy top 10 welter of all time. One of the great Cubans.
We've probably lost so many fighters that should of been professionally great with the pro boxing ban.

[handsofstone]

You could see glimpses of Napoles class early doors but the swelling to the eye really flared up,as tough as Stracey was i doubt he'd be able to keep up with Jose if he didnt fade