54 years ago

Date: 14th February 1970

Venue: The Forum, Inglewood, California

Title: WBC & WBA World Welterweight Titles

Promoter: George Parnassus

Jose Napoles
( 62 - 4 - 0 )
Weight: 145 1/2 lbs

Ernie Lopez
( 39 - 5 - 1 )
Weight: 146 lbs

WBC & WBA World Welterweight champion Jose Napoles made the third defence of the titles he won from Curtis Cokes fourteen months earlier by way of a 13th round retirement victory, against mandatory challenger Ernie 'Indian Red' Lopez at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

Napoles won a rematch with Cokes (W RTD 10), and a 15 round unanimous decision win over Emile Griffiths before meeting Lopez.

Napoles was at his supreme best on this night, using a fast, hard, and accurate jab to control most of the rounds. He dropped Lopez for counts in the 1st, 9th, and 15th rounds when referee Larry Rozadilla called a halt to proceedings.

The champion was way ahead on all three ringside judges scorecards.

Scores: Larry Rozadilla 12-2 | Lee Grossman 12-3 | Rudy Jordan 11-4.