4. Jose Napoles

From Cuba, but boxing out of Mexico, Napoles’ smooth skills earned him the nickname Mantequilla (butter), but he also possessed a trip-hammer left hook.

He took the title from Curtis Cokes in 1969 and defended 14 times. A fight against towering middleweight Carlos Monzon in 1974 proved disastrous.

Napoles was simply too small and was pulled out by his corner.

But at welterweight, he was untouchable, beating fine fighters such as Emile Griffith, Hedgemon Lewis, Ernie Lopez and Clyde Grat.

A shadow of the fighter who once dominated the division, Jose lost his crown to our own John H Stracey in 1975. After boxing, penniless Napoles fell into a Mr Bojangles existence, dancing in rags for restaurant customers.

Jose Napoles

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