Jose Napoles vs. Hedgemon Lewis (2nd meeting)
Jose Napoles 147 lbs beat Hedgemon Lewis 142 lbs by TKO at 2:40 in round 9 of 15
- Date: 1974-08-03
- Location: Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
- Referee: Ramon Berumen
- Judge: 80-74
Bout Summary
"Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles of Mexico retained his world welterweight crown Saturday with a TKO over Hedgemon Lewis in the 9th round of their scheduled 15 round bout in the Mexico City Sports Palace. Throughout most of the battle the wily veteran took the initiative against the American - much to the surprise of many ring forecasts. Lewis inflicted a cut over Napoles' left brow but, thanks to the deft cornerwork of trainer Angelo Dundee of Miami, it did not bleed. With the start of the 9th, Napoles clearly took command of the fight and began slamming punishing blows to the challenger from L.A. Lewis began to wobble and Napoles backed him into the ropes with smashing lefts and rights. As Lewis was obviously becoming almost defenseless, the referee stopped the fight awarding a TKO to the champion." - United Press International.
Notes
- All three officials scored the bout 80-74 in Napoles favor.
Post-Fight Quotes
- "It was a good fight up to the time Hedgemon got caught. A puncher will always be a puncher and that's just what Napoles is. Hedgemon got caught with some shots he should have avoided. But we all go through the same process and once you get hit sometimes you can't shake it." - Joe Frazier, Lewis' stablemate.