Billy Backus vs. Miguel Barreto
Billy Backus 148 lbs lost to Miguel Barreto 145 lbs by MD in round 12 of 12
- Date: 1973-08-04
- Location: Felt Forum, New York, New York, USA
- Referee: Arthur Mercante 4-7
- Judge: Al Reid 2-9
- Judge: Frank Digesu 6-6
"Miguel Barreto, a Puerto Rican who fights out of Philadelphia, won a 12 round majority decision over Billy Backus in a nationally televised bout highlighted by exciting toe-to-toe exchanges Saturday. Barreto used a strategy of circling side to side to offset Backus' awkward left-handed stance and thumped the former champion repeatedly with straight rights to the head. In the 3rd round Backus knocked Barreto onto the lower rope strand in his own corner at about the 1:00 minute mark and hammered away with both hands as Barreto covered up and referee Mercante attempted to separate them. It was not ruled a knockdown but Barreto appeared to have tired slightly from the exchange as Backus forced him against the ropes and landed several solid blows. Barreto opened a small cut over Backus' left eye in the 7th and the laceration bled slightly throughout the remainder of the bout." -Associated Press
- Referee Arthur Mercante took the 4th round from Backus due to a low blow and a rabbit punch.
- Unofficial AP scorecard - 7-4-1 Barreto
- This bout was nationally televised.
Post fight comments
- "I beat him! Man, I knew I could take him!" -Miguel Barreto
- "I don't know how I lost. I didn't lose the way I rate fights. I thought I had it." -Billy Backus