- José Nápoles
Infobox Boxer
name=José Nápoles
imagesize=
realname=José Ángel Nápoles
nickname=Mantequilla
weight=Welterweight
height=5' 7 1/2
reach=28 1/2
nationality=flagicon|CubaCuba n
birth_date=birth date and age|1940|4|13
birth_place=Santiago, Cuba
death_date=
death_place=
style=Orthodox
total=86
wins=79
losses=7
draws=0
no contests=0
KO=55|José Ángel Nápoles, nicknamed "Mantequilla" ("Butter") (born
April 13 ,1940 ), is a Cuban former worldwelterweight boxing champion. Napoles is a national hero both in Cuba and Mexico, and is a member of theInternational Boxing Hall of Fame .Cuba
Napoles, born in
Santiago de Cuba , had a record of 114 wins and 1 loss as an amateur boxer. [es icon [http://www.lomejordelboxeo.com/verfama.php?id=16 "Lo Mejor del Boxeo"'s Hall of Fame - José "Mantequilla" Nápoles] - lomejordelboxeo.com, PROTESA - retrieved October 2006.] He debuted as a professional boxer onAugust 2 ,1958 in Cuba, knocking outJulio Rojas in the first round. Napoles' first 18 bouts were in Cuba, against mostly unknown competition. He did beatÁngel García andLeslie Grant , but lost toHilton Smith (in his first defeat).After beating
Enrique Carabeo in March 1961, Napoles found himself a new challenge, outside of the ring; Cuban presidentFidel Castro banned professional boxing in Cuba, and Napoles soon found his career in jeopardy.Mexico
He found asylum in Mexico, where he soon found himself back inside the ring, beating Enrique Camarena by a
knockout in two rounds onJuly 21 1962 . He won all four of his fights that year.In 1963, he won seven bouts and lost two. He was defeated by Tony Perez and
Alfredo Urbina , both by decision, but he beatJC Morgan , by knockout in seven rounds, inVenezuela .1964 was a successful year for Napoles. He travelled to
Japan , where he beatTaketeru Yoshimoto by knockout in round one, and he beat future world championCarlos Hernandez by knockout in round seven, this time back in Venezuela. In addition to those wins, he avenged his loss to Urbina by knocking him out twice, the first time in the first round and the second time in the third.He won three more fights in 1965, including another win against Morgan, before seeing a raise in opposition quality when he faced the former world Junior
Welterweight championEddie Perkins , beating him by decision in ten rounds. For his next fight, he met his own future world title challenger,Adolph Pruitt , beating him by knockout in round three.In 1966, he won five fights, all by knockout, and lost one, to arch-rival Morgan, who knocked him out in round four. This would be his last loss in four years.
Welterweight Champion
Napoles began a streak of 20 wins in a row, 13 of them before challenging for the world's welterweight title. These included avenging the loss to Morgan with a two round knockout. During this period, Napoles also became a fan favorite in southern
California , and, after beatingFate Davis , onFebruary 15 of 1969 in Mexico, he was given an opportunity to win the world championship when he faced world championCurtis Cokes in Inglewood, onApril 18 . Napoles beat Cokes by a knockout in round 13 to become world welterweight champion, and, as was becoming common place for him, he wore a Mexican hat after the fight. OnJune 29 , he retained the title in a rematch with Cokes by a knockout in round 10 at Mexico City, and onOctober 12 , he outpointed former world championEmile Griffith in 15, also retaining the title.Loss of Title
Napoles began the decade of the 1970s, by defeating challenger
Ernie Lopez by a knockout in round 15 in front of an audience that included former world championSugar Ray Robinson on St. Valentine's day, 1970. But after winning two non title bouts, he suffered an upset when he was stopped due to be cut in four rounds byCarmen Basilio 's nephewBilly Backus , who took the world's Welterweight title from Napoles onDecember 3 at Syracuse.Re-gaining the Title
After winning one more fight, he and Backus fought again, for the world welterweight title now in Backus' hands. This time, it was held in Los Angeles, and Napoles recovered the world championship via an 8th round stoppage. After three non-title wins, including one over
Jean Josselin , he facedHedgemon Lewis onDecember 14 , retaining the world title with a decision in 15 rounds, but Napoles' training habits were suffering; he was said to be coming into the gym stinking of alcohol with an attitude torwards his seconds.In 1972, he retained the title knocking out
Ralph Charles in seven inEngland , and then, Pruitt resurfaced again, this time with the world Welterweight title on the line. Napoles retained his crown by knockout in round two.World traveller Napoles began 1973 by retaining the title against Lopez again, by knockout in seven, then he visited
Grenoble, France , where he retained the crown with a 15 round decision overRoger Menetrey , and Toronto, where he beatClyde Gray , once again retaining the world title with a 15 round decision.Middleweight
After this, many boxing fans were asking for a fight between Napoles and world middleweight champion
Carlos Monzon . The fight was made possible when Napoles moved in weight to challenge Monzon for Monzon's title, so the two dueled onFebruary 9 1974 at a parking lot in Paris. This would be Napoles' only bout at the Middleweight division, as he was defeated by Monzon with a knockout in round seven. Napoles then went back to the Welterweight division, and retained the title twice before the year ended, with a knockout in nine over Lewis, and with a knockout in three overHoracio Saldano .In 1975, Napoles had two wins over
Armando Muniz , both times to retain his world title. The first time, a technical decision win in 12 rounds at Acapulco was a controversial win, so a return match was fought in Los Angeles, where Napoles prevailed by decision.References
Retirement
On
December 6 of that year, however, Napoles lost his title to British boxing teacherJohn H. Stracey , who won over Napoles by atechnical knockou t (due to cuts) in round six at Mexico City despite being floored by Napoles in round one. After this fight, Napoles announced his retirement. Remarkably, he was able to stay away from the temptation of a comeback, much likeMarvin Hagler .In 1985, Napoles was inducted into the old,
Ring Magazine boxing hall of fame, which had its offices at theMadison Square Garden .In 1990, Napoles was inducted as a member of the original group of members of the modern,
International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.He had a record of 78 wins and 7 losses, with 55 wins by knockout, which makes him a member of the exclusive group of boxers that won 50 or more fights by knockout in their careers.
See also
*
List of WBC world champions
*List of undisputed boxing champions
*Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years External links
*
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