Boxing great "Mantequilla" Napoles dies at 79

Boxing great "Mantequilla" Napoles dies at 79
https://www.yahoo.com/news/boxing-great-mantequilla-napoles-dies-023514185.html
by CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ,Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles, the Hall of Famer Mexican boxer who was a two-time welterweight world champion, has died. He was 79.

The World Boxing Council said Friday that Napoles died in his home in Mexico City "with his children and grandchildren at his bedside".

Napoles, who was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 and was named by The Associated Press the fourth-greatest welterweight of the 20th century, was a two-time welterweight world champion, who boxed from 1958-1975.

"The great Hall of Fame WBC welterweight champion is now champion for eternity, he passed but did it with his loving children by his side, long live Jose 'Mantequilla' Napoles," WBC President, Mauricio Sulaiman said om his official Twitter account.

Sulaiman did not provide more details about the cause of death.

Napoles suffered from diabetes and Alzheimer's in his last years.

"Typical of the man, who was the bravest and most courageous of fighters, that although he had been affected by various illnesses for some time, he bravely battled on, attending WBC events, always smiling and being greeted by his many friends and fans, who admired him as a fighter and as a man. Today that struggle came to an end," the WBC said in a statement.

Napoles was born in Cuba on April 13, 1940, and arrived in Mexico City in the 1960s after Fidel Castro banned professional boxing on the island. On April 18, 1969, he defeated Curtis Cokes, also a Hall of famer, to become the welterweight champion. He was granted Mexican citizenship a day after that by former President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz.

He defended the title 15 times and retired in December 1975, after losing to John Stracey, with an 81-7 record.

Possibly the most fitting nickname in boxing history.

Truly majestic fighter to watch, simultaneously graceful yet spiteful, elusive yet always pressuring. We can argue records all day, but in terms of skill and virtuosity, he's in a class amongst all other great Welters caught on film which perhaps only Ray Leonard can occupy alongside him.

I love his masterclasses against Ralph Charles, Griffith and Lopez (rematch), but if there's one fight which shows how freakishly good Napoles was in his prime, it's the first Curtis Cokes fight. Mantequilla was as close to all-round boxing perfection as you can get that night. Stunning performance.

R.I.P, what a fighter.

Great fighter with two drawbacks....

One he was from Cuba with no real market..Though he adopted Mexico...Two he was a Welterweight at a time when it was thought of as a lesser weight division..

Like other great welters Robinson...Basilio..Griffiths had to move up to 160 to look for bigger paydays..

Left it too late perhaps though he lost to a ATG Top 5 middleweight..

Stracey loss was the same as the Honeyghan loss for Curry....Timely matchmaking from the astute and savvy Duff..

Great tactician and Top 10 Welter for sure..Had a lot to be proud of..

Rest in Peace..

Truss still resolutely defending Curry. Ahh, that takes me back....How's tricks, beefster?

Also shouldn't be forgotten that in reality, Napoles was probably the best Light-Welter in the world for around three years from roughly 1965 to 1968; he'd beaten both Hernandez and Perkins in non-title fights, but unlike them never got to fight for the 140 lb championship. The only reason he went after the Welterweight title was because a shot at Light-Welter didn't seem to be on the horizon. Shouldn't have really had to go chasing Monzon to try and become a two-weight champion, but even then he was doing pretty well against Carlos (despite weighing inside the Light-Middle limit) before his eye gave out and Monzon just started manhandling him.

I'd have him at #3 or #4 in the Welters.

Sad loss. Any British fight fan who’s likely first and only experience of him will gave been the Stracey fight could be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss was about. But timing us everything and he was a shell of his former self.

His record in his prime was exceptional, definitely top 5 welter for me, and good argument for no 3.

After Leonard and honeyghan obviously

RIP

Absolutely terrific fighter and undoubtedly