Thread: Greatest Mexican Bantams

Dougie Fischer over at Ring.com has done a wonderful piece on his Top Ten Mexican Bantam Titleholders. It includes writeups and videos.

I'll note that four of the top ten fought from 1965-1972 or so, the most amazing era for bantams in history. That era was so strong that men as fearsome as Jose Medel and Romeo Anaya and Jesus Pimintel are Mexican afterthoughts. Shoot, just being the best bantam in Mexico City in those days was an extraordinary accomplishment.

10: Mexico's best bantamweight titleholders ever | RingTV

What about Jose Juan Furkales whose reign as regional but quickly rising Real De Catorce native was abruptly ended by his untimely and suspicious death.

Originally Posted by boozeboxer

What about Jose Juan Furkales whose reign as regional but quickly rising Real De Catorce native was abruptly ended by his untimely and suspicious death.

never heard of him./

Originally Posted by boozeboxer

What about Jose Juan Furkales whose reign as regional but quickly rising Real De Catorce native was abruptly ended by his untimely and suspicious death.

Think my Granddad spoke of that.

Furkales could've been a great imo, but we never got to find out

IMO he would have probably ended up being just another pretender... he looked like he could of had some talent but I dunno... his attitude just kind of reminded my of half of the Heavy Weight division now days... I think he'd have just been a bantam weight Sam Peter to be honest.

I did like his nick name though... 'The Bantam of the Opera'.

Seems he was a Gaston Leroux fan.

Orlando Canizales was my favourite.

Oh great Furkales again, tell you what, why don't we start another Harry Simon thread while we're at it!

Originally Posted by BIG H

Furkales could've been a great imo, but we never got to find out

You know what they say would have, could have should have....(Beverly Knight)

Wow. Well at least your not running on about Wonky wright again. Like the variety. I only recall one or two times seeing Furkales mentioned in some early 90's mag, Bert sugars B.I or KO? Mentioned the grace of a Jeff Chandler with rare tenacity of Ad Wolgast but seems a mystery to me. Are you sure that is not an alias or something or lost on translation down South? Scandal ridden I've heard afterall. Checking u tube...

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Wow. Well at least your not running on about Wonky wright again. Like the variety. I only recall one or two times seeing Furkales mentioned in some early 90's mag, Bert sugars B.I or KO? Mentioned the grace of a Jeff Chandler with rare tenacity of Ad Wolgast but seems a mystery to me. Are you sure that is not an alias or something or lost on translation down South? Scandal ridden I've heard afterall. Checking u tube...

Yeah I remember that article. But shit I have all those magazines up in the attic. May have to go back through them to find some vintage!

What's even crazier and I've mentioned this before is the amount of talent that has poured out of "Tepito" which is a small neighborhood if you will in Mexico City.

Of noteriaty: Ruben Olivares, Raul Macias, Rodolfo Martinez, Kid Azteca, MAB, Carlos Zarate, Octavio Gomez (all boxers), Actor Mario Moreno Cantinflas (Mexicos Charlie Chaplin), Mistico (Mexicos current most famous wrestler. By the way Mexican wrestling is easily the best in the world), Argueably 2 of Mexicos most popular wrestlers ever El Santo & Huracan Ramirez are from there, Cuahthemoc Blanco & Hugo Sanchez (soccer players)

This is all from one neighborhood/streets... That is pretty amazing.


As for Furkales he loved the party life and that was his big dismay.
He had outstanding wins albeit at regional level but he was well on his way to a world title.

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

What's even crazier and I've mentioned this before is the amount of talent that has poured out of "Tepito" which is a small neighborhood if you will in Mexico City.

Of noteriaty: Ruben Olivares, Raul Macias, Rodolfo Martinez, Kid Azteca, MAB, Carlos Zarate, Octavio Gomez (all boxers), Actor Mario Moreno Cantinflas (Mexicos Charlie Chaplin), Mistico (Mexicos current most famous wrestler. By the way Mexican wrestling is easily the best in the world), Argueably 2 of Mexicos most popular wrestlers ever El Santo & Huracan Ramirez are from there, Cuahthemoc Blanco & Hugo Sanchez (soccer players)

This is all from one neighborhood/streets... That is pretty amazing.


As for Furkales he loved the party life and that was his big dismay.
He had outstanding wins albeit at regional level but he was well on his way to a world title.

An absolute comic God!

Zarate and Rafael Marquez are two of my favorites at 118..

Most people would disagree with this one but Ruben Olivares is overrated imo and i dont think he should be that high on the Mexican list of ATG fighters..