This coming Saturday night in China (you’re aware of this, unless you’re enjoying real estate in Antarctica), HBO PPV will showcase Manny Pacquiao and his much anticipated return to the ring against Mexican badass, Brandon Rios.
While Rios is 100% tough, to go down as one of his nation’s finest he has a long way to go (though he can shorten it big-time with a win over Pacquiao). His countryman, Mikey Garcia, is a great talent and has the look of a burgeoning superstar.
And though Saul “Canelo” Alvarez had red ink and a big “F” all over his exam with Floyd Mayweather, I believe Canelo still has what it takes to become an all-time great.
There is good- and then there’s great.
But to catapult yourself into the land of “special”, means you’ve done things to separate yourself from a legion of fine warriors the nation of Mexico is known for. The best of the best.
This is my 10.
#10. Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30KO’s)
There will be those who will say he doesn’t belong on this list or that he isn’t even Mexican (which is laughable). You are wrong. The “Golden Boy” founder/promoter and Ring Magazine mogul is the most successful fighter of Mexican descent ever, and easily one of its greatest fighters. The Olympic Gold Medalist and multi-division world champion, was a box office bonanza with movie star good looks. But his resume is what does it for me. Quartey, Whitaker, Trinidad, Vargas, Hopkins, Mosley, Mayweather and Pacquiao, are just some of the names that glow all over it. For this, and a few other things he did to demonstrate bravery and greatness, he gets a pass for posing in panties and stockings. (Uh.. Then again, I gotta think about that one.)
#9. Erik Morales (61-9, 36KO’s)
Famous for heated trilogies with Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao, “El Terrible” was a nasty fighter. His countrymen will never forget his explosive knockout of Mexican assassin Junior Jones. I didn’t, and that fight alone might make him worthy of making this list. A proud warrior and a fantastic finisher.
#8. Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzales (43-3, 31KO’s)
Today, imagine a Jr. Flyweight in a PPV Superfight… I can’t either. “Chiquita” waged one of the most spectacular wars you will ever see with Michael Carbajal in 1993. He lost that cliffhanger, but he dominated the trilogy between them. He is a fistic hero in Mexico, and rightfully so. He was tougher than any steak you should’ve never put in the microwave.
#7. Marco Antonio Barrera (67-7, 44KO’s)
“The Baby-Faced Assassin” was everything you’d expect from a solid Mexican fighter and then some. He was very skilled- but Barrera had a mean streak. You saw it on serious display in his wars with Erik Morales and in his encounter with “Prince” Naseem Hamed. His battles with Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Rocky Juarez are all part of boxing lore. He is best known, however (and to the delight of many), for dominating and exposing Hamed.
#6. Ruben Olivares (88-13-3, 78KO’s)
Olivares was probably the toughest soldier to ever come out of Mexico. He was arguably the best fighter in the world during Ali’s exile in the late 60’s, and if you want to say that he was better than Carlos Zarate at bantamweight- you can. What a winner he was in Alexis Arguello’s electrifying comeback victory over him. He was also great in losing to Eusebio Pedroza while trying to grab the WBA featherweight title. A great, great fighter.
#5. Carlos Zarate (66-4, 63KO’s)
Forget about Zarate during the 80’s following a nearly six year hiatus from the sport. He was extremely bitter following a narrow loss to Lupe Pintor. I thought he won that fight. Zarate had all kinds of ammunition and full command of his ring acumen. He was a sensational knockout artist and the best bantamweight of all-time. He was a mind-boggling 52-0 (with 51KO’s) before being gunned down by Wilfredo Gomez.
#4. Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6, 40KO’s)
He is literally the perfect fighter by definition. His technical proficiency, extreme intelligence, balance and deft footwork.. Everything about Juan Manuel is textbook sound. He is the best counterpuncher among Mexican fighters in history (ask Manny Pacquiao), and would give anyone, in any era, an assortment of problems. His array of skills, patience, and a “I’m gonna knock your ass out” mentality, just sets him apart. Timothy Bradley dodged a bullet.. And used his head as one (remember all the “vaseline” lol). Plus he better be glad he didn’t bring his buddy “Memo” Heredia.
#3. Ricardo Lopez (51-0-1, 38KO’s)
“El Finito” (The Fine One) is the most complete fighter in Mexican history and one of the greatest fighter’s of all-time. He was so good, he can easily be regarded as #1 on this list. He defended the WBC Strawweight title a record 21 times. He snatched the WBA and WBO titles there. Then he went up in weight and collected the IBF Light Flyweight title. When you consider how much faster punches travel at the very lowest weight classes, his dominance and sheer mastery was breathtaking.
Look at his record, and now consider that he never lost an amateur fight (he was a decorated amateur and had over 100 of those), making him the only fighter in history to accomplish this. He is legendary trainer “Nacho” Beristain’s finest work, and the great Marquez got a lot of his game from Lopez. He had 26 consecutive title fights without a loss, a distinction he shares with Joe Louis. The only blemish on his record occurred in his 48th bout, a March 1998 draw with Rosendo Alvarez, which he avenged in his next fight later that year. Ricardo Lopez was ridiculous.
#2. Salvador Sanchez (44-1-1, 32KO’s)
I think Sanchez is the greatest featherweight boxer of all-time. Had he lived, he could’ve surpassed the great Chavez in achievement and had all the tools to beat him (at Chavez’s best and in his prime). I think he would’ve. Sanchez was a mesmerizing talent. “The Invincible Eagle” only had 4 amateur bouts, and lost a tough split decision for the vacant bantamweight championship to fellow Mexican, Antonio Becerra.
When you consider he turned pro at 16, and lost this fight in just his 19th bout, you begin to understand what a prodigy he was. Felix Trinidad Sr. did, getting KO’d in 5 rounds by the young phenom, which positioned him for another title fight. Sanchez, at 21, dispatched and knocked out a “shocked” Danny “Little Red” Lopez in the 13th round to claim the featherweight title.
In his very 1st defense, he faced the tough Ruben Castillo (who was 47-1 at the time) and beat him over 15 rounds, before giving Lopez the rematch he was basically demanding. Lopez was extremely popular, talented and difficult to beat. He thought Sanchez beating him was a fluke. In a spectacular return performance, which was better than the original, Sanchez put a comprehensive beating on Lopez before stopping him in the 14th round.
He dominated Juan Laporte, then got legendary wins over Puerto-Rican icon Wilfredo Gomez and the granite-chinned Azumah Nelson. Can you tell I’m gushing over Sanchez?
All I have is an opinion, but I believe he was so special, that his name could’ve eventually wound up alongside Sugar Ray Robinson’s. His rare physical attributes and ring genius, could’ve guided him past anybody in the star-studded 80’s, as he was set for a rematch with Gomez and a superfight with Alexis Arguello. Aaron Pryor was also on his radar.
Why did he have to have a fast car?
#1. Julio Cesar Chavez (108-6-2, 87KO’s)
Its not easy to get on the cover of Sports Illustrated if you’re a fighter from Mexico. He did. Plus he dated Salma Hayek in all of her “From Dusk till Dawn” splendor. He has to get points for this… A six-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chavez was undefeated for 13 years. He was 87-0 before running into Pernell Whitaker, who just might be the greatest pure boxer of all-time. His iron will, impenetrable chin, devastating body attack and relentless nature, makes him the best fighter in the history of Mexico.
He had 27 successful world title defenses, and is probably responsible for an unparalleled use of “BenGay”. Chavez would shrink the ring and force you to fight. He beat Roger Mayweather in two different sadistic ways, and mercilessly assaulted Puerto-Rican bomber Edwin Rosario.
Chavez is a God in Mexico. Over 132,000 rabid fans (a record for attendance today) packed Estadio Azteca Stadium to see him bludgeon Greg Haugen with hatred, and he owns a clinical destruction of Hector “Macho” Camacho. No one will ever forget his epic, cold-blooded, come-from-behind stoppage of Meldrick Taylor. He is everything any proud Mexican could ever want in a fighter.
