Best Mexican Boxers Of All Time
Mexico is known for being the home of some of the best boxers in the sport’s history. We constantly debate who the best Mexican boxers to ever step into the squared circle.
Here is our list of the 15 best Mexican boxers to ever live. Check out the career stats of these legends below and what made them so special.
Best Mexican Boxers
Julio Caesar Chavez
- Record: 107-6-2 (86 Knockouts)
- Divisions: Super Featherweight, Lightweight, Light Welterweight
- Titles: 3 Division Champion
If you’re going to make a list of the best Mexican boxers, one of the first names has to be Julio Caesar Chavez. He is not only a Mexican legend but an all-time boxing legend and arguably the best ever.
Aside from Floyd Mayweather, nobody earned as much success as Chavez. The legend went undefeated in his first 90 bouts. In his 25 years as a fighter, Julio shattered almost every major boxing record, from title defenses to titles won. Caesar Chavez is the definition of GOAT.
Canelo Alvarez
- Record: 60–2-2 (39 KOs)
- Divisions: Welterweight, Light Middleweight, Middleweight, Super Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight
- Titles: 4 Division Champion
Canelo Alvarez has been captivating the boxing world since turning pro at 17. Alvarez has created one of the most impressive legacies in the history of boxing.
He became just the third Mexican fighter to become a four-division champion. Canelo has knocked out the best fighters in the world and continues to chase greatness.
The young Mexican legend will continue to add to his legacy as one of the best Mexican boxers ever.
Salvador Sanchez
- Record: 44-1-1 (32 KOs)
- Divisions: Bantamweight. Featherweight
- Titles: 2 Division Champion
If you ask pro boxers who they think are the best Mexican boxers, they all say Salvador Sanchez. For those of you who don’t know, Salvador Sanchez was one of the most talented boxers ever to live.
Everyone from Roy Jones, Mike Tyson, and James Toney say he was the most talented boxer they ever saw. Sanchez’s career was cut short due to a tragic accident, but he was on the path to greatness.
Before passing away at 23, Salvador had already earned a 44-1-1 record. If he didn’t die, he may have become one of the greatest champions ever.
Juan Manuel Marquez
- Record: 56-7-1
- Divisions: Super Featherweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Light Welterweight, Welterweight
- Titles: 4 Division Champion
Juan Manuel Marquez is a unanimous selection on Mt. Rushmore of the best Mexican boxers ever. The boxing legend achieved greatness many times during his long career and became a 4-division champion.
Marquez’s career was filled with epic battles against Erik Morales, Manny Pacquaio, and Marco Antonio Barrera. He always came forward in true Mexican fighter fashion, looking for the knockout. Juan may very well be the most beloved Mexican fighter ever.
Ruben Olivares
- Record: 89-13-3 (79 KOs)
- Divisions: Super Featherweight, Featherweight, Super Bantamweight, Bantamweight
- Titles: 2 Division Champion
For many fight fans, Ruben Olivares was the best Mexican boxer of the 1970s. In 89 of his professional wins, Olivares put away 79 of his opponents.
He put away numerous legends like Jose Luis Ramirez, Bobby Chacon, and Efren Torres. Ruben was a superstar with power in both hands and a happy personality. Any fight fan, who watched Olivares will tell you he is one of the best Mexican boxers ever.
Carlos Zarate Serna
- Record: 66-4 (63 KOs)
- Division: Bantamweight
- Titles: 1 Division Champion
Undoubtedly, one of the best Mexican boxers of all time is the legend, Carlos Zarate Serna. Carlos was considered the best bantamweight in the world during the 1970s and 1980s.
Serna was an aggressive power puncher who put away many greats like Alfonso Zamora, Alberto Davis, and Andres Hernandez. When Serna ended his career, he racked up an astounding 63 KOs in 66 wins.
Marco Antonio Barrera
- Record: 67-7 (44 KOs) 1 No Contest
- Divisions: Super Flyweight, Super Bantamweight, Featherweight, Super Featherweight, Lightweight
- Titles: 3 Division Champion
Another one of the well-regarded best Mexican boxers of the modern era is Marco Antonio Barrera. The 3-division champion had the patented hard-nosed Mexican style, which made him a legend.
Barrera is most known for having fought just about every major boxing champion during his career. One of his greatest performances came in 2001 as he shut down brash UK superstar Prince Naseem. Not only is Marco a Mexican legend, but one of the all-time boxing greats.
Ricardo Lopez
- Record: 51-0-1 (38 KOs)
- Divisions: Mini Flyweight, Light Flyweight
- Titles: 2 Division Champion
In the history of the flyweight division, there is one name that stands above them all, and that’s Ricardo Lopez. Not only was Lopez one of the best Mexican boxers ever, but one of the best defensive boxers ever.
The speed and elusiveness of Lopez made him an impossible puzzle for his opponents to solve. He was always five steps ahead of his opponents and always beat them to the punch.
During his impressive career, Lopez ruled the flyweight divisions with unmatched talent and skills.
Chucho Castillo
- Record: 47-17-2 (3 KOs)
- Divisions: Bantamweight, Featherweight
- Titles: 1 Division Champion
Chucho Castillo was one of the best Mexican boxers of the early 1970s. Castillo was known for having one of the toughest styles of the era.
He was a grinder who brought the fight to his opponents. Either Chucho was going to break his opponent’s will, or he was going to break trying.
Castillo is most known for his intense rivalry with legend Ruben Olivares to claim the bantamweight crown. Anytime you saw Castillo fight, it was an intense experience.
Vicente Saldivar
- Record: 37-3 (26 KOs)
- Divisions: Featherweight, Super Featherweight, Lightweight
- Titles: 1 Division Champion
Vicente Saldivar may have been the best Mexican boxer of the 1960s and early 1970s. Saldivar’s talent and good looks quickly made him a superstar of the era.
During his prime, Saldivar won 3 featherweight titles before retiring in 1967. Then, after three years, Vicente returned and won his featherweight crown again.
Miguel Canto
- Record: 61-9-4 (14 KOs)
- Division: Flyweight
- Titles: 1 Division Champion
Miguel Canto was one of the best Mexican boxers who dominated the flyweight division during the 1970s. El Maestro routinely took his opponents to boxing school during most of his pro bouts.
Canto was known for his speed and nonstop action style in the ring. During his prime, Miguel went undefeated from 1973 to 1979, breaking the record for most flyweight title defenses. He’s arguably one of the best flyweights ever to live and an all-time great Mexican fighter.
Erik Morales
- Record: 52-9 (36 KOs)
- Divisions: Super Bantamweight, Featherweight, Super Featherweight, Lightweight, Light Welterweight, Welterweight
- Titles: 4 Division Champion
Erik “Terrible” Morales cemented his legacy as one of the best Mexican boxers ever, becoming a 4-division champion. For 3 decades, Morales was one of boxing’s top fighters.
He succeeded in every division he entered and beat some of the world’s best fighters. Terrible is known for his epic bouts with Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera, which are all-time classics. Erik is a legend of boxing and an easy choice for a list of the best Mexican boxers.
Juan Zurita
- Record: 131-23-1 (43 KOs)
- Divisions: Lightweight
- Titles: 1 Division Champion
Juan Zurita was one of the first great Mexican champions that the country produced. Zurita was a king of the lightweight division during the 1930s and 1940s.
The Mexican lightweight was known for his stiff left hand and quickness. In his career, Zurita would compete in 155 pro bouts and only tasted defeat 23 times. He was one of the best Mexican boxers that more fans should know about.
Raul Macias
- Record: 41-2 (5 KOs)
- Divisions: Bantamweight
- Titles: 1 Division Champion
Raul Macias was the top Mexican fighter of the 1950s, who dominated the bantamweight division. He was a superstar in Mexico during his era, where he was by far the most talented fighter.
Macias had a laser-like focus and was never out of place. Raul could never be broken, which is why he was the king of the bantamweight division during the 1950s.
Jaime Munguia
- Record: 42-0 (33 KOs)
- Divisions: Welterweight, Light Middleweight, Middleweight, Super Middleweight
- Titles: 3 Division Champion
The last spot on our list of the best Mexican boxers ever goes to current rising star Jaime Munguia. At just 27 years old, the young Mexican fighter has already become a 3-division champion.
Munguia currently has an undefeated record and has displayed that he’s a generational talent. Fans could likely see Jaime become one of the best boxers of all time as his career continues. Possibly even a future bout with the legend Canelo Alvarez.
