WHAT LATIN COUNTRY IS BEST IN BOXING CUBA PUERTORICO OR MEXICO?

?

Mexico

Well..You could not say cuba as of right now due to communism so they cannot turn pro but they have such amazing amatuers that when communism is over Cuba will have some massive stars in pro boxing

Mexico is bigger then Puerto Rico so its bound to turn out more fighters and not that puerto rico doesnt but Mexicans are known to be tough and alot of mexicans grow up poor and hungry and make it by fighting.

Puerto rico however imo although it turns out less fighters i think when you do find fighters that come out of puerto rico they are not all as good as mexicans but when you search hard enough you find some very special and different talent from puerto rico and its nice to see, Pr brings something different to the table imo

:)

Mexico probably the better known for its boxers just for the sheer number of Mexican fighters who have had great careers.

Per capita I have to say Puerto Rico. When you consider all the greats that have come from this little island only 100 x 35 miles. Gomez, Benitez, Camacho Sr, Trinidad and all the new talent with Cotto, Calderon, Juan Ma, Cintron, Quintana and as much as I hate him John Ruiz has to be mentioned as the first puertorrican HW to win a mayor title. There is a lot of quality and well schooled fighters.

Cuba would make a bigger impact if they had better relations with the US and allowed their fighters to fight there. All we see are the ones who have defected. They always do great in the Olympics.

P4P Puerto Rico takes it. For such a small place it produces a ton of great talent. Mexico is obviously great as well, but there are cities in Mexico bigger than the whole island of PR. O0

Hard to say who is "best", but as far as boxing rich culture. Its gotta be PR because they put alot of media attention on boxing and when they have big fights going on, its front page. Cuba is unknown because of foreign policies. I would throw Argentina in the mix they seem to have more activity than U.S. and Mexico as far as fights taking place.

All three countries have a rich and proud tradition in boxing.

Puerto Rico is probably the one whose best fighters are more recent than the others, and is really producing some great fighters especially over the past 15 years or so.

I think Mexico is right up there with anyone in the world in producing so many all time greats, but also (crucially) entire generations of teak-tough technically good fighters at all levels, Anyone in the ring with a Mexican knows he's usually in for a fight. Mexico shades PR for me, just because they have been producing world class fighters for longer.

IMO, and this is just me, Cuba has the richest history of all in boxing. Before Communism they had such luminaries as Kid gavilan, Kid Chocolate etc who conquered the world in the days when there were just 8 divisions and champs fought everyone. Since Communism, they have dominated Olympics, world championships, Pan Am games almost totally. Never mind the fact that these guys are supposed to be 'amateur', they train like pros and fight like pros. A great athlete in the ring is a great athlete in the ring. Stevenson and Savon, Kindelan and co would have been right up there at the top of the pro tree. Even their defectors are world champions.

Still, and it has to be said, all three countries really are at the top of the tree, so talking about the 'best' is like comparing a Pele and Maradona ... an intellectual excercise only as they are in the elite of the elite.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Rookie Fan

Per capita I have to say Puerto Rico. When you consider all the greats that have come from this little island only 100 x 35 miles. Gomez, Benitez, Camacho Sr, Trinidad and all the new talent with Cotto, Calderon, Juan Ma, Cintron, Quintana and as much as I hate him John Ruiz has to be mentioned as the first puertorrican HW to win a mayor title. There is a lot of quality and well schooled fighters.

---

Would have loved to see you list Sixto Escobar, Carlos Ortiz, Edwin Rosario and Juan LaPorte.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by X

All three countries have a rich and proud tradition in boxing.

Puerto Rico is probably the one whose best fighters are more recent than the others, and is really producing some great fighters especially over the past 15 years or so.

I think Mexico is right up there with anyone in the world in producing so many all time greats, but also (crucially) entire generations of teak-tough technically good fighters at all levels, Anyone in the ring with a Mexican knows he's usually in for a fight. Mexico shades PR for me, just because they have been producing world class fighters for longer.

IMO, and this is just me, Cuba has the richest history of all in boxing. Before Communism they had such luminaries as Kid gavilan, Kid Chocolate etc who conquered the world in the days when there were just 8 divisions and champs fought everyone. Since Communism, they have dominated Olympics, world championships, Pan Am games almost totally. Never mind the fact that these guys are supposed to be 'amateur', they train like pros and fight like pros. A great athlete in the ring is a great athlete in the ring. Stevenson and Savon, Kindelan and co would have been right up there at the top of the pro tree. Even their defectors are world champions.

Still, and it has to be said, all three countries really are at the top of the tree, so talking about the 'best' is like comparing a Pele and Maradona ... an intellectual excercise only as they are in the elite of the elite.

---

Well put X :appl: very good observation there.

You all make some good points.
I'd say Mexico because two of my all-time favourites - Chavez and Olivares came from there.
Interesting another one I loved Jose Napoles was a Cuban fighting out of Mexico - he got the best of both worlds.

Mexico has had the most world champs and some of the greatest too.

Cuba is difficult to rate as they have been behind the curtain for the last 50 years although there's no doubt they are still producing great fighters.

Puerto Rico is the undoubted P4P Champ when it comes to Boxing Champions. Under 4 million people and so many great fighters!

In my (worthless) opinion, only Panama comes close to PR in terms of great boxers by populations. They currently have around 3.5 mil but have given us Pedroza, Lujan, Frazier, Vasquez, Laguna, Panama Al Brown, Rios, Marcel and some chap named Duran. All the named are current or former champs of high standard, most since the 70's...

As American athletes continue to drift towards the safety of their 3 team sports we'll see more Latin American, ex-Soviet and Asian countries making their mark. Each World Champ from a country provides the spark for the next generation of hungry kids with something to prove.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Rookie Fan

Per capita I have to say Puerto Rico. When you consider all the greats that have come from this little island only 100 x 35 miles. Gomez, Benitez, Camacho Sr, Trinidad and all the new talent with Cotto, Calderon, Juan Ma, Cintron, Quintana and as much as I hate him John Ruiz has to be mentioned as the first puertorrican HW to win a mayor title. There is a lot of quality and well schooled fighters.

---

Would have loved to see you list Sixto Escobar, Carlos Ortiz, Edwin Rosario and Juan LaPorte.

---

Hey, remember I'm just a rookie. ;)

Mexico . but it is bigger , hell they are all hotbeds for hard fighters , its really impossible to say :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Rookie Fan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Rookie Fan

Per capita I have to say Puerto Rico. When you consider all the greats that have come from this little island only 100 x 35 miles. Gomez, Benitez, Camacho Sr, Trinidad and all the new talent with Cotto, Calderon, Juan Ma, Cintron, Quintana and as much as I hate him John Ruiz has to be mentioned as the first puertorrican HW to win a mayor title. There is a lot of quality and well schooled fighters.

---

Would have loved to see you list Sixto Escobar, Carlos Ortiz, Edwin Rosario and Juan LaPorte.

---

Hey, remember I'm just a rookie. ;)

---

CC#46 ;D
Well, then it's time we start working on you to move you up in the rankings.
Good deal man if you don't know who these guys are I strongly suggest you look them up when you get a chance.
Key fighters in PR history, for ex: Sixto was PR's 1st fighter to win a world title. Ortiz is considered by some (not me) to be the best Lightweight all-time.

How abut USA ?? ;D Look how many Latino fighters live here... ;D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Landon

How abut USA ?? ;D Look how many Latino fighters live here... ;D

---

Yes, but with that argument, Italy is the only Latin country in the world !!! :P

Cuba is # 1 in amateur boxing, but in professional just look at my Nickname ;D I just remembered the team freedom. A group of Cuban boxers who turned pro and were adopted in Puerto Rico. They were superior in technique by far compared to most of the fighters they had in front, but could not manage when someone was not KO before the third. I remember "La Roca" Villegas (only known in Puerto Rico for a very short period of time, no technique, but stone jaw) beating badly at least 2 team freedom members (don't remember the names).

Puerto Rico's achievements in pro boxing are amazing if you consider the size of this country 100 x 35 miles.

Something important to mention here is the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. Whenever we have fight between a Puerto Rican an a Mexican there are a lot of emotions (at least in PR where I live). This comes back in the history and I can mention fights such as Gómez's beating the World Bantamweight champion Carlos Zarate, who was 55-0 with 54 knockout wins, Lupe Pintor, among others. Not to mention the first lost of Gomez against Mexican, Salvador Sanchez. This was a BIG upset for the island.

I definitely have Puerto Rico as # 1, the land of Wilfredo "The Radar" Benitez who became world champion at age of 17 beating Kid Pambele. He is the youngest world boxing champ in history. :appl:

These are just a few examples, but the boxing history between Puerto Rico and Mexico is long.

Que Viva Puerto Rico!!!! 8)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by taansend

Mexico has had the most world champs and some of the greatest too.

Cuba is difficult to rate as they have been behind the curtain for the last 50 years although there's no doubt they are still producing great fighters.

Puerto Rico is the undoubted P4P Champ when it comes to Boxing Champions. Under 4 million people and so many great fighters!

In my (worthless) opinion, only Panama comes close to PR in terms of great boxers by populations. They currently have around 3.5 mil but have given us Pedroza, Lujan, Frazier, Vasquez, Laguna, Panama Al Brown, Rios, Marcel and some chap named Duran. All the named are current or former champs of high standard, most since the 70's...

As American athletes continue to drift towards the safety of their 3 team sports we'll see more Latin American, ex-Soviet and Asian countries making their mark. Each World Champ from a country provides the spark for the next generation of hungry kids with something to prove.

---

NOw calling someone World Champion have a true meaning of the world

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by X

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Landon

How abut USA ?? ;D Look how many Latino fighters live here... ;D

---

Yes, but with that argument, Italy is the only Latin country in the world !!! :P

---

Wrong they are not consider Latin. (I think)

Spain is barely consider Latin


Best Chin MEXICO is the P4P BEST ever(well at least most of them)
Puerto Rico and Mexicas are right there in HEART

Puerto Rico IMO are better not a lot but better in technique.

CHeck out these two BEASTS in my Sig I gave Tito's sig a rest for this 2 for a while.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Puya

Yes, but with that argument, Italy is the only Latin country in the world !!! :P

---

Wrong they are not consider Latin. (I think)
[/quote]


Hmmn ..... Latin was a language invented and spoken by ..... the Romans.

Rome is in Italy.

'Latino' countries are so-called because their european settlers originally came from Italy (and Spain, as their language has its roots in ancient Latin)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by X

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Puya

Yes, but with that argument, Italy is the only Latin country in the world !!! :P

---

Wrong they are not consider Latin. (I think)

---

Hmmn ..... Latin was a language invented and spoken by ..... the Romans.

Rome is in Italy.

'Latino' countries are so-called because their european settlers originally came from Italy (and Spain, as their language has its roots in ancient Latin)
[/quote]

Yo X (and others), do you know what you are talking about? "Latin" is not spoken any more anywhere in the world (except by the pope and some catholic priests during mass). In Italy, they speak "Italian," which developed from "Latin" as was French, Spanish, Portuguese, and I believe Romanian. Thus, any Spanish-speaking country can be considered "Latin" if you define it as any country or person whose language originated fron "Latin."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Rookie Fan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Rookie Fan

Per capita I have to say Puerto Rico. When you consider all the greats that have come from this little island only 100 x 35 miles. Gomez, Benitez, Camacho Sr, Trinidad and all the new talent with Cotto, Calderon, Juan Ma, Cintron, Quintana and as much as I hate him John Ruiz has to be mentioned as the first puertorrican HW to win a mayor title. There is a lot of quality and well schooled fighters.

---

Would have loved to see you list Sixto Escobar, Carlos Ortiz, Edwin Rosario and Juan LaPorte.

---

Hey, remember I'm just a rookie. ;)

---

also don't forget Carlos "Sugar" De Leon, sadly enough Daniel Santos, Nelson Dieppa, Alex Sanchez, Eric Morel, Jose Torres, Esteban Dejesus (first man to defeat the great Duran), and well a bunch of others

I would have to be ignorant if I did not say Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico — Population: 3,944,259 (July 2007 est.)

Mexico — Population: 108,700,891 (July 2007 est.)

Just imagine if there 105 million more Puerto Ricans on this planet. Parish the the thought j/k but on the real, boxing would be jumping.

Although I am Mexican, I can not deny the facts.

Both peoples bring a lot to the sport.

Viva Mexico and Viva Puerto Rico.

Cuba is another story we have Joel Casamayor. ;D

One would think that Cuba would have their champions as well.

I wish the U.S would lift her sanctions against Cuba. >:mad

All three countires can stake their claim.

Mexico has produced the best fighters of all three. They are like a conveyor belt of talent. In the most recent issue of The Ring, 32 Mexicans were included in it's ratings icluding the Marquez brothers, Barrera, Morales and Antonio Margarito. There were 3 mexcans in the Pound-For-Pound list aswell. Mexico has also produced some of the greatest warriors of all time including Carlos Zarate, Julio Cesar Chavez and Ruben Olivares. But Mexico is the largest of the three countries by a long way which will always count against it in these debates but it always has good fighters coming through.

Puerto Rico is tiny and has always produced good fighters. Camacho Senior, Benitez, Cotto, Trinidad, Escobar, C.Ortiz, La Porte, Rosario and many more.
Puerto Rico is the home to the youngest world champion of all-time, one of the best fighters of this era and one of the betst fighters in the world today (Benitez,Trinidad and Cotto.)

Cuba has been behind a curtain for decades now but before that they have produced Kid Chocolate and Kid Gavilan, two of the greatest in their divisions ever. Plus Joel Casamayor, in my eyes the best lightweight in the world today is cuban. They dominate the Olympics. Just look at some of the fighter it has produce who have been great amateurs. There is Mario Kindelan, Felix Savon, Teofilo Stevenson, Juan Hernandez and Andres Aldama. If democaracy is restoredin Cuba we may be able to see some if the great fighters they produce fight professionally. I sure hope so.

Other contenders:
Panama have prouced some great fighters such as Roberto Duran, Panama Al Brown and Eusebio Pedroza among others (Vasquez, Zapata etc.)

Nicaragua aren't bad themselves. Alexis Arguello, Rosendo Alvarez and Ricardo Mayorga all hailed from here.

The Final Standings:
1. Puerto Rico
2. Mexico
3. Panama
4. Cuba
5. Nicaragua

Honourable Mentions: Colombia, Dominican Republic.

Though I am a Proud Puerto Rican and hate to Admit this but...Mexico has the edge on us all......They just keep pumping the guys out...They are like a mini fighter factory....I think Mexico produces more top Quality fighters 147 and under then any country in the world

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Danny_G

I would have to be ignorant if I did not say Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico — Population: 3,944,259 (July 2007 est.)

Mexico — Population: 108,700,891 (July 2007 est.)

Just imagine if there 105 million more Puerto Ricans on this planet. Parish the the thought j/k but on the real, boxing would be jumping.

Although I am Mexican, I can not deny the facts.

Both peoples bring a lot to the sport.

Viva Mexico and Viva Puerto Rico.

Cuba is another story we have Joel Casamayor. ;D

One would think that Cuba would have their champions as well.

I wish the U.S would lift her sanctions against Cuba. >:mad

---

Now i might be mistaken here, but didn't mexico have upwards of 120 million a few years ago?

Cheers all around and I'm happy that no ones taken the fuck you and your country route. Good to see this thread didn't take a shit and turned into my countries better then yours.

I think all in all theres a mutual respect amongst Latin countries.
(For the record Spain, nore Italy are known as Latin Countries LMAO)

I think what makes all countries special is the hunger and heart that the fighters bring.

I know this a Latin country thread but the Philipines have catapulted themselves to one of the top spots as of late and they continue to move up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican Punch

Something important to mention here is the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. Whenever we have fight between a Puerto Rican an a Mexican there are a lot of emotions (at least in PR where I live).

---

I know exactly what you mean man... Emotions start flowing your heart is into it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican Punch

This comes back in the history and I can mention fights such as Gómez's beating the World Bantamweight champion Carlos Zarate, who was 55-0 with 54 knockout wins

---

You know I gotta be honest here and I've mentioned this before IMO, Gomez should have been DQ'd for hitting Zarate while he was down. I mean honestly Gomez was hitting Zarate and was beating him to the punch BUT the wining punch came while Zarates knee was on the canvas.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican Punch

This comes back in the history and I can mention fights such as Gómez's beating Lupe Pintor.

---

Whoa! what a fight this was man.. I mean they really beat the hell out of eachother in that fight and that fwocken 3rd round is truly amazing. Pintor had Gomez hurt several times but Gomezs heart wouldn't fail him this time around and he weathered the storm and would comeback and hurt Pintor in return. I've chatted with people and they've told me that the low blows that Gomez landed were intentional. I think different I mean a low blows a low blow I've only seen a handful of intentional low blows the one Gomez landed to me it did not look intentional. I think what gave Gomez the win was that he invested in the body early on in the fight and was landing his shots while Pintor made most damage around the face.
That 14th round was just brilliant and what an ending to such a great fight.

Argentina, should be mentioned here as well me thinks.
Not because they are better, but because they have become
HUGE as far as volume goes in the sport there is a huge
percentage of fight cards that include Argentinians (sp.?)

Baldomir, Mattysse et. al.

Look at the fight listings for tomorrow, 7 seperate events in Argentina
And another on Saturday

As far as the topic at hand goes.

I have to go with Mexico for now, I am not validating the per capita argument
And all things considered Puerto Rico is an American Territory.

So for me the order is this

1) Mexico
2) Puerto Rico
3) Cuba
4) Columbia
5) Argentina
6) Panama
7) Nicaragua
8) Brazil

OK lets get this hole Latin thing straight once and for all.

Latin Countries (also known as Latin Europe): Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Moldova.

Latin American Countries (which is the countries this thread is referring to): Any country in the American Continents (North or South) that were at some point conquered and have a cultural base from one of the above countries. Which means pretty much everything south of USA with a few exceptions.

A country with a population of 3 mllion that has produced great fighters is Wales going of the subject sorry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Scrap

A country with a population of 3 mllion that has produced great fighters is Wales going of the subject sorry.

---

Yes that is off-topic...................But IMO Jimmy Wilde is the best Welsh fighter ever............Just my opinion.

Technically Puerto Rico is not a country eather... does that mean PR is DQed? Ok lets not get too technical then. LOL

Panama... They had Duran.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rican

Yo X (and others), do you know what you are talking about? "Latin" is not spoken any more anywhere in the world (except by the pope and some catholic priests during mass). In Italy, they speak "Italian," which developed from "Latin" as was French, Spanish, Portuguese, and I believe Romanian. Thus, any Spanish-speaking country can be considered "Latin" if you define it as any country or person whose language originated fron "Latin."

---

Yes, Tito, that's my point. I was joking a bit when I said that Italy should count as a Latino country for the exact reasons you state.

My bad . . ... for a crap joke. :-[

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

I know this a Latin country thread but the Philipines have catapulted themselves to one of the top spots as of late and they continue to move up.

---

I know this is not what the original poster meant by 'Latin Country', but Phillipines is actually part of the Latin Union:
http://www.unilat.org/SG/Organisatio...s/index.es.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Union

Just thought it was an interesting note in this debate.

Another thing I was thinking when reading this thread: Does anybody have any explanation for these countries, or even more so why othere countries do not merit mentions at all? Like, why is Panama and Nicaragua proud boxing nations, while Honduras, Costa Rica or Guatemala are not? Why are there Colombian, Venezulean (for some reason nobody seem to have mentioned Venezuela btw, but with prospects as Valero and Linares they should gain mentions in the future) and Argentinian fighters at the world stage, but only very few Brazilian, despite that being a bigger country. And I cannot seem to remember any fighter from any of other South American countries at all.

Is there a simple explanation for these things? Colonial history or something like that perhaps? I was wondering if a massive American (as opposed to European) influence might be the reason. There does seem to be a slight correlation between baseball-mad and boxing-mad nations for example, while also I was thinking that few of these big boxing nations seem to have a decent football/soccer team. Only Mexico, Argentina and Colombia have made it to the world cup recently for example.

I saw this interesting thread, and thought I'd put together some stats on the subject. If you go by boxing champions in a country's history and divide by every million people in population, you arrive at the following rankings:

Country World Champs per Million People

1. Puerto Rico 9.52
2. Panama 7.18
3. United States 1.37
4. Dominican Republic 1.33
5. Venezuela 1.12
6. Mexico 1.03
7. Cuba 0.98
8. England 0.89
9. Argentina 0.76
10. Australia 0.67

So basically, if you consider the population of the countries, Puerto Rico has by far the highest number of boxing world champions in history per capita than any other country in the world.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TitoFan

I saw this interesting thread, and thought I'd put together some stats on the subject. If you go by boxing champions in a country's history and divide by every million people in population, you arrive at the following rankings:

Country World Champs per Million People

1. Puerto Rico 9.52
2. Panama 7.18
3. United States 1.37
4. Dominican Republic 1.33
5. Venezuela 1.12
6. Mexico 1.03
7. Cuba 0.98
8. England 0.89
9. Argentina 0.76
10. Australia 0.67

So basically, if you consider the population of the countries, Puerto Rico has by far the highest number of boxing world champions in history per capita than any other country in the world.

---

CC man not because of Puerto Rico being #1 but for taking the time for us and doing the math

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Puya

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TitoFan

I saw this interesting thread, and thought I'd put together some stats on the subject. If you go by boxing champions in a country's history and divide by every million people in population, you arrive at the following rankings:

Country World Champs per Million People

1. Puerto Rico 9.52
2. Panama 7.18
3. United States 1.37
4. Dominican Republic 1.33
5. Venezuela 1.12
6. Mexico 1.03
7. Cuba 0.98
8. England 0.89
9. Argentina 0.76
10. Australia 0.67

So basically, if you consider the population of the countries, Puerto Rico has by far the highest number of boxing world champions in history per capita than any other country in the world.

---

CC man not because of Puerto Rico being #1 but for taking the time for us and doing the math

---

Thanks bro. By the way, the stats are up-to-date as per the latest information gathered from Boxrec and Wikipedia.

;D

Tito

This was brilliant. Thanks. PR & Panama are head and shoulders above all other nations...

This was a good thread that did not degenerate into slagging other countries of or accusations of non-PC racism.

Nice one, all.