Jose Napoles vs. Billy Backus (1st meeting)

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Jose Napoles 144 lbs lost to Billy Backus 146 lbs by TKO at 0:55 in round 4 of 15

"In a tremendous upset, after a short, murderously bloody brawl, Billy Backus of Canastota last night became welterweight champion of the world. With both fighters streaming blood from cuts beside both eyes, Backus sliced a deep gash above the left eye of champion Jose Napoles, and, when Syracuse referee Jack Milicich judged that Napoles couldn't see from that eye, he stopped the War Memorial fight. The end, a TKO, came after one minute of the 4th round of the scheduled 15 rounder. Napoles was much the superior fighter in the first two rounds, repeatedly beating Backus to the punch. The 3rd round was one of the most exciting three minute sessions ever seen here, as the two stood toe-to-toe and slugged it out, with Backus showing by far the greatest punching power he has demonstrated since he moved into welterweight contention. Both fighters needed after-round repairs to both eyes, but Backus quickly opened a new cut on Napoles' left eyelid, and Milicich, with outside-the-ring approval from Dr. John Sinoatti, stopped the bout as wild jubilation ensued." -Syracuse Post-Standard

  • Although the promotion realized app. $46,000 from the gate, Backus, who was to receive 18% of the gate, received nothing as the Syracuse Boxing Club was in the red, having to pay Napoles his guarantee of $62,000. Moreover, Napoles was the only fighter on the card to gain a percentage from the closed circuit TV broadcasts to the west coast and to Mexico.
  • Officials were referee Jack Milicich and judges Joe Palmer and Tony DeSalvo.
  • Attendance - 4,452

Post fight comments

  • "It was the worst cut I've ever seen. I could see his eyeball." -Referee Jack Milicich
  • "He is the toughest, smartest fighter I have ever faced and that is why he was champion." -Billy Backus
  • "Napoles was hitting him often with that left hand in the first two rounds and I told Billy to stay away from it and come in from a different angle. And when he did it, he got in those good shots that won it. He cut him with those double-hooks." -Backus' co-trainer and uncle Carmen Basilio
  • "He is a strong fighter and used his head well." -Jose Napoles, claiming that his cuts were caused by butts.
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