Billy Backus

Billy Backus (born March 5, 1943) is a former world boxing champion whose coronation was considered by some to be as surprising as Team USA's ice hockey gold medal coronation at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games or James Buster Douglass knockout victory over Mike Tyson.

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 made the WBA 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.

Related Topics:
1971 - Jose Gabino - 1972 - Hedgemon Lewis - 1973 - European - 1974 - Berlin - 1975 - Australia - Rocky Mattioli - Marc Gervais - WBA - Everaldo Acosta Acevedo - Pipino Cuevas - Mexico

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Although he isn't a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame (unlike his uncle Basilio, who is), in 1990, Ed Brohpy 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.

Related Topics:
International Boxing Hall Of Fame - 1990 - Ed Brohpy

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

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