BoxRec

For some reason I group these two together in my mind as a sort of pair, I think because there are a few similarities both long running champs, similar timespan, and from what I have seen broadly similar styles I.E. skilful offensive fighters

I also think I group them because they are very very close in terms of talent and records, but i don't really know enough to judge who the better man was, though I suspect it was close

So those of you who know their careers better, who was the greater fighter and am I right to see them as being so close together in talent and achievements?

Ortiz refused to fight Napoles...who was a natural Lightweight... Napoles eventually went to Welterweight and destroyed Curtis Cokes to finally capture a World Title... He tried to go to Middleweight to pick up Carlos Monzon's World Title but he was too small for the great Middleweight.. Napoles fought Mike Cruz in a Lightweight fight as late as 1968 -- so all the while Ortiz held the Lightweight Title, Napoles was capable of making 135.. Napoles fought Cokes the following year at age 29 I believe.. He weighed 143 and it was his 1st World Title Fight.

Napoles was considered the best boxer in the world at one point.. He was brilliant by any estimate.. He would have beaten Ortiz, who was damned good.