Kid Gavilan .Vs. Jose Napoles

[la-califa]

Who would have won this showdown of Great Cuban Welterweights? 15 Rounds.

[pryorgatti]

Toss up

[Sweet Pea]

Such a close call this fight, I may have to slightly favor Napoles though.

[jaywilton]

Gavilan.
Napoles' power wouldn't mean anything.

[dpw417]

I'll take Gavilan at his best in this fight...but I'm impressed with Napoles though.

[Sweet Pea]

Gavilan.
Napoles' power wouldn't mean anything.That's the worst analysis I've ever seen on any topic.

Maybe not quite, but I'm irritable right now. That analysis sucked though.

[acb]

That's the worst analysis I've ever seen on any topic.

Maybe not quite, but I'm irritable right now. That analysis sucked though.

:lol:

[SuzieQ49]

Napoles would struggle with top speed fighters, fight could be interesting.

[jaywilton]

That's the worst analysis I've ever seen on any topic.

Maybe not quite, but I'm irritable right now. That analysis sucked though...same to you.

[teeto]

Sweet Pea, you can be a harsh guy at times!!! But you are right.

[Sweet Pea]

..same to you.I gave no analysis, I simply favored one of them slightly. Your point made no sense at all though and showed you clearly don't know too much about the fighters at hand. You basically made it seem as though Napoles was just a puncher.

[jaywilton]

That's the worst analysis I've ever seen on any topic.

Maybe not quite, but I'm irritable right now. That analysis sucked though...same to you again-that includes when you get off the rag-and sign up for a remedial reading class.

[Manassa]

Napoles' power would mean a thing actually. I don't care how solid your jaw is, a well timed punch can upset your rhythm, knock you off balance or even deposit you on your arse. Carmen Basilio showed us that and so did Ike Williams when he knocked Gavilan down.

It's a hard fight to analyse because both fighters are strong in most areas; it's not like Dick Tiger versus Joey Giardello where there are clear differences in styles and attributes. This one is much closer and comes down to style intricacies and subtleties...

... Such as the differences between the two when involved in a fierce exchange. Watch Napoles in one, then watch Gavilan; I'm all for Gavilan, one of my favourite fighters, but Napoles was undoubtedly more consummate and efficient under pressure. Gavilan was a physical force and athlete enough that he could afford to go mental and waste punches, even jeopardising his balance and chin, but then he wasn't fighting Napoles, who is known as one of the premier counter punchers. When in heated battles, Napoles, at least in his prime, just looks more 'boxer' than Gavilan; he looks like a professional and Gavilan looks like an eager kid from the streets.

Not that it's a knock on Gavilan, he found massive success with his style and who am I to criticise? But Napoles would find or create gaps and openings where he could exploit these mistakes just as he did with Emile Griffith.

[acb]

Napoles' power would mean a thing actually. I don't care how solid your jaw is, a well timed punch can upset your rhythm, knock you off balance or even deposit you on your arse. Carmen Basilio showed us that and so did Ike Williams when he knocked Gavilan down.

It's a hard fight to analyse because both fighters are strong in most areas; it's not like Dick Tiger versus Joey Giardello where there are clear differences in styles and attributes. This one is much closer and comes down to style intricacies and subtleties...

... Such as the differences between the two when involved in a fierce exchange. Watch Napoles in one, then watch Gavilan; I'm all for Gavilan, one of my favourite fighters, but Napoles was undoubtedly more consummate and efficient under pressure. Gavilan was a physical force and athlete enough that he could afford to go mental and waste punches, even jeopardising his balance and chin, but then he wasn't fighting Napoles, who is known as one of the premier counter punchers. When in heated battles, Napoles, at least in his prime, just looks more 'boxer' than Gavilan; he looks like a professional and Gavilan looks like an eager kid from the streets.

Not that it's a knock on Gavilan, he found massive success with his style and who am I to criticise? But Napoles would find or create gaps and openings where he could exploit these mistakes just as he did with Emile Griffith.
Not sure I agree at all with this part as it is very context dependent. Gavilan opened up wildly on foes that he felt he had an edge over like Turner or Buker, or even Bratton in their second fight. But there were others that he fought in a much more contained style such as the first Bratton fight, the Hairston fight, or even for most of the second Janiro fight. He was very adept at knowing who he was in against and what they could handle in his fights, a very intelligent fighter. That being said I don't think your charachterization of him applies to being in there with Napoles.

[Manassa]

Not sure I agree at all with this part as it is very context dependent. Gavilan opened up wildly on foes that he felt he had an edge over like Turner or Buker, or even Bratton in their second fight. But there were others that he fought in a much more contained style such as the first Bratton fight, the Hairston fight, or even for most of the second Janiro fight. He was very adept at knowing who he was in against and what they could handle in his fights, a very intelligent fighter. That being said I don't think your charachterization of him applies to being in there with Napoles.

It goes for all Gavilan exchanges. He was a wilder fighter, simple as that; you could say he fought more passionately. As I said, he could afford to do this with tamer foes, but against Napoles he'll be caught out. Maybe he would fight more cautiously, but then he's going to still lose because Napoles is the better boxer. But as you said, Gavilan was an intelligent fighter so he should know to pressure Napoles if he wants to win.

[acb]

It goes for all Gavilan exchanges. He was a wilder fighter, simple as that; you could say he fought more passionately. As I said, he could afford to do this with tamer foes, but against Napoles he'll be caught out. Maybe he would fight more cautiously, but then he's going to still lose because Napoles is the better boxer. But as you said, Gavilan was an intelligent fighter so he should know to pressure Napoles if he wants to win.
I haven't seen enough of Napoles to comment on him, but I disagree with your comment on all of Gavilan's exchanges being wild for the reasons I already mentioned. Gavilan was a great pressuer fighter when he wanted to be and had good head movement coming forward.

Oh well I will watch some more Napoles.

[markedwardscott]

Great intriguing match. Napoles' power would allow him to control the fight. Gavilan was flashy but threw arm punches. Napoles got his weight into his punches.

[Raging B(_)LL]

I like Gavilan in this one. He was a good enough boxer to hold his own with Napoles in that department, and although Jose had the edge in power The Keed has the advantages in speed and workrate as well as reach. My guess is that Gavilan would box his way vs Napoles and make good use of his jab and that he would flurry late in each round to try and sway the judges and crowd.

Napoles will make him pay though if and when he gets too wild with his flurrys, but I think Gavilan was smart enough to realize what kind of foe he would be dealing with here in Mantequilla and would have fought accordingly. Close fight either way, but I think the Keed`s flash and higher punch outout would see him to victory.