Jose Napoles
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia
Name: Jose Napoles
Alias: Mantequilla
Birth Name: Jose Angel Napoles
Born: 1940-04-13
Birthplace: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Nationality: Cuban
Hometown: Juarez, Nuevo León, Mexico
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 7½″ / 171cm
Reach: 72″ / 183cm
Boxing Record: click
Trainer: Angelo Dundee
Manager: Cuco Conde
Career Overview
- Some sources list his amateur record as 113-1, and some list it as 114-1.
- In the August 1969 issue of The Ring (page 39), Napoles addressed a disputed bout. Some sources had him losing to Diwaldo Ventosa in 1960, but Napoles insisted it was his cousin, Israel Napoles, who had fought and lost to Ventosa. The linked record lists Jose Napoles as defeating Ventosa in 1960.
- After Cuban president Fidel Castro banned pro boxing in 1961, Napoles defected to Mexico, where he was adopted as a national hero.
- Stopped Curtis Cokes to win the world welterweight title in 1969.
- Lost the title to Billy Backus by TKO due to a cut in December 1970, but regained it six months later with a TKO.
- Unsuccessfully challenged Carlos Monzon for the world middleweight title in 1974, losing by TKO.
- Retired after losing the title by TKO to John H. Stracey in 1975.
- Made 13 successful title defenses.
Awards & Recognition
- Named The Ring Fighter of the Year for 1969.
- Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1984
- Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990
- In 1999, the Associated Press named Napoles the 4th greatest welterweight of the 20th century.
Source
- The Ring, August 1969, pages 6,7, & 39: JOSE NAPOLES GOT NICKELS FOR EARLY FIGHTS, by Don Fraser.
| Preceded by: Curtis Cokes |
WBA Welterweight Champion WBC Welterweight Champion 1969 Apr 18 – 1970 Dec 3 |
Succeeded by: Billy Backus |
| Preceded by: Billy Backus |
WBA Welterweight Champion 1971 Jun 4 – 1975 Stripped |
Succeeded by: Angel Espada |
| Preceded by: Billy Backus |
WBC Welterweight Champion 1971 Jun 4 – 1975 Dec 6 |
Succeeded by: John H. Stracey |
