Billy Backus

Billy "Harold William" Backus emerged from Canastota, New York, to achieve an unlikely world championship in a career marked by remarkable persistence. The 5'7" southpaw with a 69-inch reach initially retired in 1965 with an underwhelming 8-7-3 record, but his 1967 return under manager Tony Graziano and trainer/uncle Carmen Basilio transformed his trajectory.

After winning the Adirondack AAU and Niagara Golden Gloves amateur featherweight titles, Backus struggled early as a professional. His comeback began dramatically with a first-round knockout of Todd Purtell, initiating a surge that saw him win 14 of 15 bouts, avenging a loss to Percy Pugh twice during this run.

By 1970, Backus had captured the New York State Welterweight title by stopping Ricky Ortiz. His career-defining moment came on December 3, 1970, when he shocked Jose Napoles to claim the undisputed world welterweight championship. Though he lost the title back to Napoles six months later, Backus remained competitive, twice challenging Hedgemon Lewis for the NYSAC version in 1972.

His final title opportunity came against WBA champion Pipino Cuevas in 1978, ending in a second-round stoppage that prompted his retirement with a record of 48-20-5 (22 KOs). Backus later served as Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission and was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

His legacy, alongside that of his uncle Carmen Basilio, helped establish Canastota as a boxing landmark, inspiring the creation of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in their hometown. After retiring from his correctional facility job in 2006, Backus relocated to South Carolina, leaving an indelible mark on boxing history as one of Canastota's two world champions.