At 78 years old, the former Cuban boxer Jose "Mantequilla" Nápoles boxes the most important fight of his life against his diseases

José Nápoles is a former athlete who, thanks to his talent in boxing, has shine in great boxing rings around the world. At 78 years old, the Cuban is considered one of the great glories of the Welter weights. However, today he fights one of his toughest fights. "Mantequilla", as he is popularly known, suffers from Alzheimer's, diabetes and malnutrition, conditions that have led him to despair. "Sometimes he has a hard time sleeping, in his days of crisis he becomes impulsive and it's difficult to stabilize him," his partner Berta Navarro told La Razón of México.

Leer en español: José Nápoles ahora boxea contra cuatro enfermedades

A tough situation afflicts the former boxer

Nápoles lives in Ciudad Juarez next to his wife, who has supported him in this hard time. "It's very difficult to deal with José, he does not want to eat anything, and he does not like going to the hospital," Navarro told Marca Claro Mexico. In addition, he explained that he is always in bed because he despairs too much, because he also suffers from hypertension and consumptive syndrome.

Despite this complicated moment, the Cuban has received significant support from the World Boxing Council (WBC). The president of the organization, Mauricio Sulaimán, offered José a pension that he deposits every month and supports him when he travels to another city. The WBC has also extolled its achievements over the ring with several tributes.

Great box function !! Tribute to the Great Champion José Ángel Mantequilla Napoles !! next April 13! pic.twitter.com/tk246oKHhM

– DecisionDivided (@DecDividida) March 23, 2018

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In the ring he looks very happy

Navarro added to La Razón that they have done everything possible so that the former boxer is close to the ring, because he feels comfortable. Berta commented to the same media that when he goes to the ring he looks very happy, and that he gets very excited when he watches the fans and listens to applause. She also stressed that due to his profession, Nápoles has a strong and complicated character, because he was used to constant work.

For her part, her daughter Caridad Nápoles told ESPN that her father has been given the necessary treatment so that he does not suffer any relapse. The Secretary of Health of Mexico has been in charge of giving assistance to this brilliant boxer of the Welter weights through Armando Ahued. Caridad added that due to dehydration he was hospitalized and was seriously ill, but he managed to recover and returned to his residence in Ciudad Juarez.

A very successful boxer

José Nápoles was born in Cuba and was a great exponent of the Welter weights. In fact, he is considered one of the best fighters in this division. The athlete was commissioned to put up the flag of his country abroad, and became a symbol in Mexico to be nationalized and fight with high level boxers.

Ecured reported his triumph against Curtis Cokes, whom he beat in round 13 by knockout, and celebrated with a peculiar Mexican hat. That fight was held on April 18 at The Forum in Inglewood, California, and Nápoles won the world title.

In turn, Isla Local pointed out that in 1990 he entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Julio Cortázar wrote a story based on him when he fought with Monzón. This fight with the Argentine Carlos Monzón took place on February 9, 1974, and on that occasion the winner was the gaucho by knockout. The present of Nápoles is not the best, but in the memory of the fans his steel blows, his charisma and his triumphs in boxing are intact.

LatinAmerican Post | Daniel Cuevas

Translated from "José Nápoles ahora boxea contra cuatro enfermedades"