The Cuban government’s
abolishment of professional sports in the early 1960s had an
immediate and profound impact on the country’s sporting
landscape. Boxing and baseball were the leading participant
sports in an island nation proud of its sports history, and
their future would be forever changed with the decision to end
professionalism in the country.
This unexpected change in
political philosophy led to the exodus of Cuba’s top
professional boxers seeking their fame and fortune on foreign
soil. Among those deciding to continue their professional
careers outside of Cuba were Ultiminio “Sugar” Ramos,
Benny “Kid” Paret, Luis Manuel Rodriguez and Jose
“Mantequilla” Napoles.
Each one would ultimately
reach the pinnacle of their sport by winning a World
Championship, and all except Paret were later
inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Jose “Mantequilla”
Napoles began his professional career at the age of 19
in Cuba and won his first 8 fights before permanently leaving
the island nation. He moved his home base to Mexico and in
the next 8 years, established himself as a highly ranked
contender by winning 39 fights with 34 KOs and only 3 loses.
He had impressive wins over top fighters Alfredo Urbina,
Carlos “Morocho” Hernandez, Eddie Perkins, Lennox
Beckles and Fate Davis. He was acknowledged as an
excellent boxer and counter puncher with dynamite in his
fists, as indicated by his 34 KOs in 39 wins.
By now the number one
ranked fighter in the Welterweight division, he earned a
title opportunity against Welterweight champion Curtis
Cokes in April 1969. Napoles totally dominated the
battered Cokes, who was unable to continue after 13
rounds. Mexico celebrated their adopted son’s victory as
Napoles became the new Welterweight champion of the
world. He followed his title winning effort by making
successful title defenses with another win over Cokes,
and wins over future Hall-of-Famer Emille Griffith and
Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez.
However, bad luck awaited
the champion in his next defense against a strong but
inferior challenger named Billy Backus. Napoles
suffered severe cuts above both eyes in the early rounds that
led to the fight’s stoppage and Backus being crowned
the new Welterweight champion. In their rematch months
later, Napoles regained the title by knocking out
Backus in 8 rounds. He was once again on top of the
Welterweight division.
In the next three years,
Napoles once again established himself as one of the
best fighters in the world by winning ten consecutive fights.
They included victories over top contenders Hedgemon Lewis,
Adolph Pruit, Ernie “Indian Red” Lopez,
Canada’s highly regarded Clyde Gray, England’s
Ralph Charles and France’s Jean Josselin and
Roger Menetrey.
Having defeated all the
top contenders in the Welterweight division, Napoles
set his sights on a larger prize, the Middleweight
championship of the world. However, the title was in the
possession of the great future Hall-of-Famer Carlos Monzon
of Argentina, and it proved to be an insurmountable task for
Napoles. The bigger and stronger Monzon
overpowered his smaller challenger and a battered Napoles
was unable to answer the bell for the eight round.
Following his devastating
loss to Monzon, Napoles returned to his more
familiar Welterweight division and successfully defended his
title with a TKO victory over highly ranked Hedgemon Lewis
and two consecutive wins over Armando Muniz.
A now aging Napoles
faced England’s John Stracey, in what proved to be the
last fight of Napoles’ illustrious career. The
younger and quicker challenger survived a first round
knockdown and proceeded to out punch the slower champion.
Being unable to avoid Stracey’s powerful punches,
Napoles’ eyes were severely cut and closed shut, and the
fight was stopped after six rounds. Stracey had
wrestled the title from the champion, and became the new
welterweight champion of the world.
Following the loss of his
title, and after sixteen years of fighting, Jose Napoles’
skills had obviously eroded and he retired from boxing with a
record of 79 wins, 55 by KO and only 7 losses. He clearly
established himself as one of the best fighters of his
generation.
The decision to leave his
native Cuba to continue his professional career allowed
Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles to reach the pinnacle of
his sport and boxing immortality. One of Napoles’
many accomplishments was being named “1969 Fighter of The
Year” by Ring magazine. In 1999, the
Associated Press named him the fourth best welterweight of
the 20th Century. Napoles was
latter inducted into the International Boxing Hall of
Fame in Canastota, New York in 1990, the highest honor
bestowed to a professional boxer. His name is forever etched
in boxing history.
However, the sporting
community in Cuba was deprived of an opportunity to
celebrate and acknowledge Napoles’ achievements
and accolades due to the government’s hard-line stance against
professional sports in their country. Cuba’s loss was
clearly the boxing world’s gain.
~Final Profile, Part 5:
Florentino Fernandez, Jose Legra and other Cuban boxers. ..
