Billy Backus

Billy Backus, (born March 5, 1943 in Canastota, New York) is a former World Welterweight Champion professional boxer.[1] In the summer of 2006 Backus retired from his correctional facility job and moved to South Carolina.[2]

Billy Backus
Statistics
Real nameHarold William Backus
Weight(s)Welterweight
NationalityAmerican
Born (1943-03-05) March 5, 1943
Canastota, New York
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights73
Wins48
Wins by KO22
Losses20
Draws5
No contests0

Early boxing career

Backus, who is the nephew of boxing legend and former world champion Carmen Basilio, started his career by winning only 7 of his first 19 bouts. In 1964, things looked promising when he won four bouts in a row, but then he suffered a three fight losing streak. At this point of his career, he had a record of 8 wins, 7 losses and 3 draws and he retired from boxing. To make things worse, he had lost his last fight, against Rudy Richardson, on his twenty-second birthday.

Rise to prominence

Backus resumed his boxing career in 1966, but probably never in his wildest dreams could he have envisioned what happened next: in his comeback bout, he knocked out Tod Purtell in the first round, and that marked his embarkment on a seven fight winning streak that included avenging an earlier loss to Dick French. That streak was broken by a defeat at the hands of Percy Pugh in New Orleans, but soon he started on another winning streak, eight in a row, including two over Pugh. Then, Pugh broke his winning streak once again, beating him over 15 rounds, once again at New Orleans. After splitting two fights with Jerry Pellegrini and drawing in four rounds with Ricky Ortiz, Backus embarked on another winning streak, including an eight-round knockout over Ortiz in a rematch.

World Welterweight Title Bout

After that last streak, Backus was ranked among the top ten Welterweight challengers of the world at number 10. The year was 1970 and Mexico's José Nápoles had earned the right to make an optional defense of his world title (meaning he could pick any challenger among the top ten to defend against). His management, figuring they'd have an easy fight ahead of them, picked Backus as the challenger for this optional title bout. But Backus landed a punch that opened a cut over Nápoles' eye in round one, causing Nápoles to bleed profusely, and the fight was stopped in round four. Since the cut had been ruled to be caused by a punch, Backus was declared winner by a technical knockout, and he had realized a dream that many fans never thought he would: he had become the world's Welterweight champion. His uncle Basilio, watching from ringside, said: "Billy winning the world title is the best thing ever to happen in my life, even better than me winning the world title."

Billy won two non-title fights, including one over Robert Gallois in Paris, and then had a rematch with Nápoles in Los Angeles. This time Nápoles returned the favor, knocking Backus out in the eighth round and regaining his title.

Career decline

He finished 1971 with a ten-round decision win over Jose Gabino, and went 3–2 in 1972, losing two fifteen-round decisions to world title challenger Hedgemon Lewis. He lost 3 of 4 bouts in 1973, and went on a European tour in 1974, winning 2 and losing 2 in Paris and Berlin. In 1975, he went to Australia and lost by a knockout in five to Rocky Mattioli, and then he came back to the States, where he beat Marc Gervais by a knockout in ten. This marked the start of another 9 fight winning streak, which led the WBA to make him their number one challenger. After drawing in twelve rounds with Everaldo Acosta Acevedo, he had a chance at regaining the world welterweight title when faced against world champion Pipino Cuevas of Mexico, once again in Los Angeles. After losing by a knockout in the first round, Backus then announced his retirement from boxing for good.

Although he isn't a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame (unlike his uncle Basilio, who is), in 1990, Ed Brophy and some Canastota businessmen came up with the idea to build the hall of fame in Canastota, to honor Canastota's two native world champions: Basilio and Backus.

In 2010, the award nominated "Title Town USA, Boxing in Upstate New York" by noted historian Mark Allen Baker was published by The History Press in 2010 and supports Canastota, New York as the epicenter of Upstate New York's rich boxing heritage. The book includes chapters on both Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus. The introduction was written by Edward P. Brophy, Executive Director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame .

Backus had a final record of 48 wins, 20 losses and 5 draws, with 22 wins by knockout.

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
74 fights 49 wins 20 losses
By knockout 23 5
By decision 26 15
Draws 5
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
74 Loss 49–20–5 Pipino Cuevas TKO 2 (15) May 20, 1978 Forum, Inglewood For WBA welterweight title
73 Draw 49–19–5 Everaldo Costa Azevedo SD 12 Nov 19, 1977 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
72 Win 49–19–4 Joe Grier UD 10 Aug 25, 1977 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
71 Win 48–19–4 Rafael Rodriguez UD 12 Jun 03, 1977 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
70 Win 47–19–4 Roy Barrientos UD 10 Apr 08, 1977 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
69 Win 46–19–4 Justice Ortiz UD 10 Jan 27, 1977 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
68 Win 45–19–4 Tony Lopes TKO 9 (10) Nov 20, 1976 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica
67 Win 44–19–4 Pablo Rodriguez UD 10 Sep 11, 1976 Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica
66 Win 43–19–4 Jose Papo Melendez UD 10 May 28, 1976 Colonie Coliseum, Latham
65 Win 42–19–4 Angel Robinson Garcia UD 10 Apr 03, 1976 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica
64 Win 41–19–4 Pablo Rodriguez UD 10 Jan 24, 1976 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
63 Win 40–19–4 Marc Gervais KO 10 (10) Aug 23, 1975 Broome County Arena, Binghamton
62 Loss 39–19–4 Rocky Mattioli TKO 5 (10) Apr 11, 1975 Festival Hall, Melbourne
61 Loss 39–18–4 Eckhard Dagge TKO 3 (10) Jun 20, 1974 Germany
60 Win 39–17–4 Jacques Kechichian RTD 5 (10) Apr 30, 1974 Paris
59 Loss 38–17–4 Roger Menetrey PTS 12 Mar 18, 1974 Palais des Sports, Paris
58 Win 38–16–4 Roger Zami TKO 9 (10) Jan 21, 1974 Palais des Sports, Paris
57 Loss 37–16–4 Zovek Barajas TKO 3 (10) Dec 06, 1973 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
56 Win 37–15–4 Al Romano KO 3 (10) Aug 04, 1973 Three Rivers Inn, Syracuse
55 Loss 36–15–4 Miguel Barreto MD 12 Aug 04, 1973 Felt Forum, New York
54 Loss 36–14–4 Jack Tillman UD 12 Feb 13, 1973 Civic Center, Baltimore For WBA North American welterweight title
53 Loss 36–13–4 Hedgemon Lewis UD 15 Dec 08, 1972 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica For NYSAC welterweight title
52 Win 36–12–4 Dorman Crawford TKO 8 (10) Sep 23, 1972 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica
51 Loss 35–12–4 Hedgemon Lewis UD 15 Jun 06, 1972 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica For vacant NYSAC welterweight title
50 Win 35–11–4 Danny McAloon UD 12 Apr 14, 1972 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica
49 Win 34–11–4 Irish Pat Murphy TKO 7 (10) Feb 12, 1972 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica
48 Win 33–11–4 Jose Gabino UD 10 Dec 10, 1971 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica
47 Loss 32–11–4 José Nápoles TKO 8 (15) Jun 04, 1971 Forum, Inglewood Lost WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
46 Win 32–10–4 Robert Gallois MD 10 Mar 15, 1971 Palais des Sports, Paris
45 Win 31–10–4 Bobby Williams UD 12 Jan 23, 1971 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
44 Win 30–10–4 José Nápoles TKO 4 (15) Dec 03, 1970 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse Won WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
43 Win 29–10–4 Denny Stiletto KO 8 (10) Oct 03, 1970 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
42 Win 28–10–4 Manuel Gonzalez UD 10 Jul 22, 1970 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
41 Win 27–10–4 Frank Steele UD 10 Jun 15, 1970 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
40 Win 26–10–4 Manuel Burgo UD 10 Mar 24, 1970 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
39 Win 25–10–4 Ricky Ortiz TKO 8 (10) Jan 30, 1970 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
38 Draw 24–10–4 Ricky Ortiz MD 10 Oct 31, 1969 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
37 Win 24–10–3 Jerry Pellegrini UD 10 Sep 19, 1969 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
36 Loss 23–10–3 Jerry Pellegrini UD 10 Jul 21, 1969 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans
35 Loss 23–9–3 Percy Pugh UD 15 Jun 16, 1969 Rivergate Exhibition Hall, New Orleans
34 Win 23–8–3 Percy Pugh UD 12 Apr 25, 1969 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
33 Win 22–8–3 CL Lewis TKO 7 (10) Mar 17, 1969 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
32 Win 21–8–3 Percy Pugh SD 12 Jan 24, 1969 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
31 Win 20–8–3 Freddie Cobb TKO 5 (10) Dec 14, 1968 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
30 Win 19–8–3 Vince Shomo TKO 8 (10) Nov 16, 1968 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
29 Win 18–8–3 Johnny Brooks UD 10 Oct 07, 1968 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans
28 Win 17–8–3 Curtis Phillips TKO 7 (10) Sep 14, 1968 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
27 Win 16–8–3 Jerry Pellegrini SD 10 Jul 29, 1968 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans
26 Loss 15–8–3 Percy Pugh UD 10 Jun 03, 1968 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans
25 Win 15–7–3 Dick French TKO 6 (10) May 19, 1968 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
24 Win 14–7–3 Danny Andrews UD 10 Apr 06, 1968 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
23 Win 13–7–3 Juan Ramos UD 10 Feb 10, 1968 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
22 Win 12–7–3 Gene Herrick TKO 6 (10) Nov 30, 1967 Portland
21 Win 11–7–3 Curtis Phillips TKO 6 (10) Nov 24, 1967 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
20 Win 10–7–3 Ernie Robbins KO 3 (6) Oct 23, 1967 Mechanics Hall, Worcester
19 Win 9–7–3 Tod Purtell KO 1 (?) Oct 16, 1967 Worcester
18 Loss 8–7–3 Rudy Richardson UD 8 May 05, 1965 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
17 Loss 8–6–3 Billy Anderson PTS 10 Oct 30, 1964 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
16 Loss 8–5–3 Genaro Soto PTS 6 Jul 17, 1964 Madison Square Garden, New York
15 Win 8–4–3 Colin Fraser UD 10 May 19, 1964 War Memorial Auditorium, Utica
14 Win 7–4–3 Lew Anderson TKO 5 (8) Apr 18, 1964 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
13 Win 6–4–3 Dave Hilton KO 7 (8) Feb 29, 1964 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
12 Win 5–4–3 Colin Fraser RTD 5 (8) Feb 01, 1964 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse
11 Loss 4–4–3 Billy Anderson UD 8 Dec 19, 1963 Mechanics Hall, Worcester
10 Loss 4–3–3 Fernand Chretien UD 10 Aug 02, 1963 Saint Anthony's Club, New Castle (Shawtown)
9 Loss 4–2–3 Dick French UD 8 Feb 28, 1963 Mechanics Hall, Worcester
8 Draw 4–1–3 Marcel Bizien PTS 8 Jan 23, 1963 Plaza Ballroom, Paterson
7 Draw 4–1–2 Mike Cortez PTS 4 Dec 22, 1962 Madison Square Garden, New York
6 Loss 4–1–1 Luis Aponte Ortiz PTS 4 Nov 24, 1962 Gladiators' Arena, Totowa
5 Win 4–0–1 Barney Barnez PTS 4 Jun 22, 1962 Totowa
4 Win 3–0–1 Steve Gessler PTS 6 Jun 06, 1962 Saint-Jerome
3 Draw 2–0–1 Sugar Lawson PTS 4 Apr 27, 1962 Gladiators' Arena, Totowa
2 Win 2–0 Randy Sanders PTS 4 Mar 09, 1962 Gladiators' Arena, Totowa
1 Win 1–0 Ike Anthony TKO 2 (4) Sep 16, 1961 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse

See also

References
  1. "The Lineal Welterweight Champs". Cyber Boxing Zone. Archived from the original on 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  2. "Canastota's last champ pulls up stakes." October 15, 2005. The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
Sporting positions
Preceded by
José Ángel Nápoles		 World Welterweight Champion
3 Dec 1970 – 4 Jun 1971		 Succeeded by
José Ángel Nápoles
Preceded by
José Ángel Nápoles		 WBA Welterweight Champion
3 Dec 1970 – 4 Jun 1971		 Succeeded by
José Ángel Nápoles
Preceded by
José Ángel Nápoles		 WBC Welterweight Champion
3 Dec 1970 – 4 Jun 1971		 Succeeded by
José Ángel Nápoles
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