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.