Jose Napoles vs Billy Backus

On December 3, 1970, at Syracuse's War Memorial Auditorium, Billy Backus scored one of boxing's significant upsets by claiming Jose Napoles' welterweight championship via fourth-round technical stoppage. Backus, entering at 145½ pounds with a modest 29-10-4 record, faced the 144¼-pound champion who boasted a 65-4-0 ledger.

The bout, drawing 4,452 spectators, began with Napoles demonstrating superior boxing skills through two rounds. The third round erupted into a toe-to-toe slugfest, during which Backus, guided by his uncle and co-trainer Carmen Basilio, displayed unprecedented power. Both fighters sustained cuts around both eyes during this exchange.

In the fourth round, Backus opened a severe gash above Napoles' left eye, prompting referee Jack Milicich, with Dr John Sinoatti's approval, to halt the contest at 0:55. Milicich later described it as "the worst cut I've ever seen" claiming he could see Napoles' eyeball. Napoles attributed the cuts to headbutts, stating Backus "used his head well."

Despite the $46,000 gate, Backus received no compensation from his promised 18% share due to the Syracuse Boxing Club's financial obligations, including Napoles' $62,000 guarantee. Napoles alone benefited from closed-circuit TV broadcasts to the West Coast and Mexico.

The judges' scorecards at the stoppage showed identical 2-1 margins from Jack Milicich and Tony DeSalvo, though the ultimate victor proved academic given the severity of Napoles' injury.