Billy Backus - Revision history

Wouter at 11:30, 16 December 2025

2025-12-16T11:30:20Z

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	<boxer>012558</boxer>		<boxer>012558</boxer>
	*'''Trainer:''' [[Carmen Basilio]]		*'''Trainer:''' [[Carmen Basilio]]
	*'''Manager:''' [[~~Tony Graziano (Manager)\|~~Tony Graziano]]		*'''Manager:''' [[Tony Graziano]]

	== Career Overview ==		== Career Overview ==

Ric: Austin Killeen article linked

2025-05-26T23:41:53Z

Austin Killeen article linked

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	Backus remained in Canastota and served as a Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission. [http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/boxing/billy-backus]		Backus remained in Canastota and served as a Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission. [http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/boxing/billy-backus]

			*"Billy Backus: Fighting in the Shadow of Greatness" by Austin Killeen: [https://ibroresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IBRO123.8-15.pdf]

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John at 02:45, 12 September 2020

2020-09-12T02:45:41Z

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	[[File:Backus pose.JPG\|left\|thumb\|~~200px\|Billy Backus~~]]		[[File:Backus pose.JPG\|left\|thumb\|250px]]
	<boxer>012558</boxer>		<boxer>012558</boxer>
	'''Trainer:''' [[Carmen Basilio]]~~<br>~~		*'''Trainer:''' [[Carmen Basilio]]
	'''Manager:''' [[Tony Graziano]]		*'''Manager:''' [[Tony Graziano (Manager)\|Tony Graziano]]

	== Career Overview ==		== Career Overview ==

Slugger at 13:17, 5 May 2020

2020-05-05T13:17:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:17, 5 May 2020
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	[[File:Backus pose.JPG\|left\|thumb\|200px\|Billy Backus]]		[[File:Backus pose.JPG\|left\|thumb\|200px\|Billy Backus]]
	<boxer>012558</boxer>		<boxer>012558</boxer>
			'''Trainer:''' [[Carmen Basilio]]<br>
	'''Manager:''' [[Tony Graziano]]		'''Manager:''' [[Tony Graziano]]
	~~<br clear=all>~~
	==Career Overview==		== Career Overview ==
	[[File:NapolesBackus-300x237.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|Backus defeats Napoles in 1970]]		[[File:NapolesBackus-300x237.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|Backus defeats Napoles in 1970]]
	*Backus retired from boxing in 1965 with a record of 8-7-3. He returned to the ring in 1967.		*Backus retired from boxing in 1965 with a record of 8-7-3. He returned to the ring in 1967.
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	*Backus was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.		*Backus was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

			== Biography from the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame ==
	==Biography from the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame==
	[[file:Billy backus.jpg\|right\|frame\|Portrait from the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame]]		[[file:Billy backus.jpg\|right\|frame\|Portrait from the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame]]
	Billy Backus is one of two world titleholders from Canastota as he is the nephew of welterweight/middleweight boxing champion [[Carmen Basilio]].		Billy Backus is one of two world titleholders from Canastota as he is the nephew of welterweight/middleweight boxing champion [[Carmen Basilio]].
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	Backus remained in Canastota and served as a Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission. [http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/boxing/billy-backus]		Backus remained in Canastota and served as a Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission. [http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/boxing/billy-backus]


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Earl at 21:30, 1 February 2015

2015-02-01T21:30:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:30, 1 February 2015
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	[[~~file~~:Backus.~~Billy.jpg~~\|left\|thumb\|Billy Backus]]		[[File:Backus pose.JPG\|left\|thumb\|200px\|Billy Backus]]
	~~[[file:Billy backus.jpg\|right~~]]
	<boxer>012558</boxer>		<boxer>012558</boxer>
	'''Manager:''' [[Tony Graziano]]		'''Manager:''' [[Tony Graziano]]
	<br clear=all>		<br clear=all>
	=== Career ~~Highlights =~~==		==Career Overview==
	*~~Retired~~ in 1965~~, after compiling~~ a ~~mediocre~~ record of 8-7-3.		[[File:NapolesBackus-300x237.jpg\|right\|thumb\|200px\|Backus defeats Napoles in 1970]]
	*~~Won the World Welterweight Title on December 3~~, 1970, ~~when he~~ stopped [[Jose Napoles]] on cuts in four rounds.		*Backus retired from boxing in 1965 with a record of 8-7-3. He returned to the ring in 1967.
	*~~Lost~~ the ~~World Welterweight Title~~ on June 4, 1971 ~~to Napoles in his first defense~~.		*On January 30, 1970, Backus stopped Ricky Ortiz in eight rounds to win the New York State Welterweight Championship.
	*~~Had two unsuccessful attempts at~~ the New York State ~~recognized~~ World Welterweight ~~Title in bouts with [[~~Hedgemon Lewis]].		*Backus stopped [[Jose Napoles]] on cuts in four rounds to win the Undisputed World Welterweight Championship on December 3, 1970.
	*~~Was~~ stopped in two rounds ~~on May 20, 1978 in a bid for~~ [[~~Pipino Cuevas\|Pipino Cuevas's~~]] [[~~WBA~~]] ~~Welterweight Title~~.		*In his first title defense, Backus lost the championship to Napoles by an eighth-round TKO on June 4, 1971.
			*On June 16, 1972, Backus fought [[Hedgemon Lewis]] for the vacant [[New York State Athletic Commission\|NYSAC]] World Welterweight Championship and lost by a fifteen-round unanimous decision.
			*Hedgemon Lewis made his first title defense against Backus on December 8, 1972, and again won by a fifteen-round unanimous decision.
			*In his final fight, Backus was stopped in two rounds by [[WBA]] Welterweight Champion [[Pipino Cuevas]] on May 20, 1978.
			*Backus was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

	~~=== Bio ===~~
	'''Billy Backus''' is one of two world titleholders from Canastota. As an amateur, Billy won an Adirondack AAU tournament and a Niagara Golden Gloves title as a featherweight. Phase one of his professional career included eight wins, seven defeats and three draws between 1962 and 1965. He came out of a short retirement during which he trained and got himself into ironman shape and resumed boxing under the tutelage of [[Tony Graziano]], a former manager of [[Carmen Basilio]]. His first fight was a first round knockout of [[Todd Purtell]]. He won 14 of his next 15 bouts, losing only to [[Percy Pugh]], whom he later defeated twice.

	~~In 1970,~~ Billy Backus ~~was~~ one of ~~Syracuse's most popular fighters, and~~ he ~~was a top-ten ranked~~ welterweight~~. His first title fight was against~~ [[~~Jose Napoles~~]]~~, supposedly an easy breather for the champ. But Billy came on like a freight train, opened a deep cut above the champion's eye and earned a TKO to become the new Welterweight Champion of the World~~.		==Biography from the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame==
			[[file:Billy backus.jpg\|right\|frame\|Portrait from the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame]]
			Billy Backus is one of two world titleholders from Canastota as he is the nephew of welterweight/middleweight boxing champion [[Carmen Basilio]].

	~~He fought a couple non-title bouts~~, and ~~then lost his~~ title ~~to Napoles on June 4, 1971~~. ~~After seven more years, Billy finally hung up~~ his ~~gloves for good. His lifetime~~ professional ~~record was 48~~ wins, ~~20 losses, 5 draws~~ and ~~26 knockouts~~.		As an amateur, Backus won an Adirondack [[AAU]] tournament and a Niagara [[Golden Gloves]] title as a featherweight. The first part of his professional career included nine wins, seven defeats and a draw between 1962 and 1965. He temporarily stepped away from boxing in 1965.

	~~Billy is~~ the ~~nephew~~ of ~~welterweight/middleweight boxing champion~~ [[Carmen Basilio]].		Backus came out of his short retirement and trained and got himself into exceptional shape. He resumed boxing under the tutelage of [[Tony Graziano]], a former manager of his uncle, Carmen Basilio. Backus’ first fight was a round one knockout of respectable contender Todd Purtell. He won 14 of his next 15 bouts, losing only to [[Percy Pugh]], whom he later defeated twice.

	~~Billy currently lives~~ in Canastota and is a Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission.		In 1970, Backus was one of Syracuse’s most popular fighters and a highly-ranked welterweight. His first title fight came against champion Jose Napoles. Backus came on like a freight train and opened a deep cut above the champion’s eye. Backus earned a TKO in four rounds and became the new welterweight champion of the world.

			Backus fought a couple of non-title bouts before losing his crown in a rematch with Napoles on June 4, 1971. After seven more years in the ring, Backus hung up his gloves for good. His lifetime professional record was 48 wins, 20 losses, 5 draws and 26 knockouts.

			Backus remained in Canastota and served as a Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission. [http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/boxing/billy-backus]

	~~Source: http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/pages/inductees/2000/billy_backus.html<br>~~

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Sweetscientist at 19:16, 4 May 2013

2013-05-04T19:16:51Z

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	[[Category:World Welterweight Champions]]		[[Category:World Welterweight Champions]]
	[[Category:American World Champions]]		[[Category:American World Champions]]
			[[Category:The Ring Magazine Champions]]
	[[Category:Southpaw World Champions]]		[[Category:Southpaw World Champions]]

Red: category

2010-04-17T22:20:11Z

Rowdytimothy at 23:07, 15 March 2009

2009-03-15T23:07:53Z

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	before=[[Jose Napoles]]\|		before=[[Jose Napoles]]\|
	title=[[WBA Welterweight Champion]]<br>[[WBC Welterweight Champion]]\|		title=[[WBA Welterweight Champion]]<br>[[WBC Welterweight Champion]]\|
	after=[[Jose ~~Angel~~ Napoles]]\|		after=[[Jose Napoles]]\|
	years=1970 Dec 3 – 1971 Jun 4		years=1970 Dec 3 – 1971 Jun 4
	}}		}}

Rowdytimothy at 23:07, 15 March 2009

2009-03-15T23:07:29Z

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	'''Billy Backus''' is one of two world titleholders from Canastota. As an amateur, Billy won an Adirondack AAU tournament and a Niagara Golden Gloves title as a featherweight. Phase one of his professional career included eight wins, seven defeats and three draws between 1962 and 1965. He came out of a short retirement during which he trained and got himself into ironman shape and resumed boxing under the tutelage of [[Tony Graziano]], a former manager of [[Carmen Basilio]]. His first fight was a first round knockout of [[Todd Purtell]]. He won 14 of his next 15 bouts, losing only to [[Percy Pugh]], whom he later defeated twice.		'''Billy Backus''' is one of two world titleholders from Canastota. As an amateur, Billy won an Adirondack AAU tournament and a Niagara Golden Gloves title as a featherweight. Phase one of his professional career included eight wins, seven defeats and three draws between 1962 and 1965. He came out of a short retirement during which he trained and got himself into ironman shape and resumed boxing under the tutelage of [[Tony Graziano]], a former manager of [[Carmen Basilio]]. His first fight was a first round knockout of [[Todd Purtell]]. He won 14 of his next 15 bouts, losing only to [[Percy Pugh]], whom he later defeated twice.

	In 1970, Billy Backus was one of Syracuse's most popular fighters, and he was a top-ten ranked welterweight. His first title fight was against [[Jose ~~Angel~~ Napoles]], supposedly an easy breather for the champ. But Billy came on like a freight train, opened a deep cut above the champion's eye and earned a TKO to become the new Welterweight Champion of the World.		In 1970, Billy Backus was one of Syracuse's most popular fighters, and he was a top-ten ranked welterweight. His first title fight was against [[Jose Napoles]], supposedly an easy breather for the champ. But Billy came on like a freight train, opened a deep cut above the champion's eye and earned a TKO to become the new Welterweight Champion of the World.

	He fought a couple non-title bouts, and then lost his title to Napoles on June 4, 1971. After seven more years, Billy finally hung up his gloves for good. His lifetime professional record was 48 wins, 20 losses, 5 draws and 26 knockouts.		He fought a couple non-title bouts, and then lost his title to Napoles on June 4, 1971. After seven more years, Billy finally hung up his gloves for good. His lifetime professional record was 48 wins, 20 losses, 5 draws and 26 knockouts.

Rowdytimothy at 23:07, 15 March 2009

2009-03-15T23:07:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:07, 15 March 2009
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	=== Career Highlights ===		=== Career Highlights ===
	*Retired in 1965, after compiling a mediocre record of 8-7-3.		*Retired in 1965, after compiling a mediocre record of 8-7-3.
	*Won the World Welterweight Title on December 3, 1970, when he stopped [[Jose ~~Angel~~ Napoles]] on cuts in four rounds.		*Won the World Welterweight Title on December 3, 1970, when he stopped [[Jose Napoles]] on cuts in four rounds.
	*Lost the World Welterweight Title on June 4, 1971 to Napoles in his first defense.		*Lost the World Welterweight Title on June 4, 1971 to Napoles in his first defense.
	*Had two unsuccessful attempts at the New York State recognized World Welterweight Title in bouts with [[Hedgemon Lewis]].		*Had two unsuccessful attempts at the New York State recognized World Welterweight Title in bouts with [[Hedgemon Lewis]].
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	{{Succession box\|		{{Succession box\|
	before=[[Jose ~~Angel~~ Napoles]]\|		before=[[Jose Napoles]]\|
	title=[[WBA Welterweight Champion]]<br>[[WBC Welterweight Champion]]\|		title=[[WBA Welterweight Champion]]<br>[[WBC Welterweight Champion]]\|
	after=[[Jose Angel Napoles]]\|		after=[[Jose Angel Napoles]]\|

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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Backus, Billy}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Backus, Billy}}
			[[Category:New York State Champions]]
	[[Category:World Welterweight Champions]]		[[Category:World Welterweight Champions]]
	[[Category:American World Champions]]		[[Category:American World Champions]]
	[[Category:Southpaw World Champions]]		[[Category:Southpaw World Champions]]