Jose Napoles vs Ernie Lopez

On Valentine's Day 1970, at the Forum in Inglewood, WBC and WBA Welterweight champion Jose Napoles demonstrated his masterful precision in a dominant defence against Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez. This was Napoles's third title defence since he seized the crown from Curtis Cokes. It showcased Napoles at his peak following successful outings against Cokes again and Emile Griffith.

Before 17,091 spectators generated a $228,417 gate, Napoles established dominance immediately, earning $100,000 to Lopez's $40,000. His ruthlessly effective jab opened a cut under Lopez's right eye and bloodied his nose in round one, where he also scored the first of three knockdowns.

The champion's control was reflected across all scoring methods. Through fourteen completed rounds, UPI had it 13-2, while AP and the Pasadena Star-News scored 13-3 for Napoles. Official judges saw similar dominance: Rozadilla (12-2), Jordan (11-4), and Grossman (12-3).

After dropping Lopez for a four-count in the ninth, Napoles completed his systematic breakdown in the fifteenth. Though Lopez showed tremendous heart, rising from a third knockdown at the count of five, referee Rozadilla intervened at 2:38 with the challenger exhausted and defenceless. The stoppage punctuated a comprehensive display of championship boxing, with Napoles exhibiting the form that had established him among welterweight's elite.