Top 25 Mexican-American Fighters Ever

[Violent Demise]

Pay attention to the muthafukkin title. Mexican-American fighters. That means fighters that are US born and are of Mexican decent. So that means Mexican fighters like Julio Cesar Chavez, Erik Morales and the rest are not eligible. I'm also well aware Antonio Margarito is US born. But wasn't raised in the US. His situation is indeed unique. He went to Mexico as an infant and was raised as if he was born there. He speaks Spanish and little to no English. And unlike the other fighters I don't think Margarito has even been referred to as being Mexican-American once in his life. So with that, I decide to count him as if he was born in Mexico. The list was made like in 10 minutes. So there's a chance I left somebody out. But the list is without a doubt on point. Anybody that disagrees can go fuck themselves.

1. Oscar De La Hoya
2. Orlando Canizales
3. Manuel Ortiz
4. Danny Lopez
5. Michael Carbajal
6. Bobby Chacon
7. Johnny Tapia
8. Genaro Hernandez
9. Paulie Ayala
10. Tony Lopez
11. Fernando Vargas
12. Danny Romero
13. Gaby Canizales
14. Mando Ramos
15. Diego Corrales
16. Juan Díaz
17. Robert Guerrero
18. Jesse James Leija
19. Art Aragon
20. Solly Smith
21. Alberto Davila
22. Richie Sandoval
23. Roberto Garcia
24. Victor Ortiz
25. Louie Espinoza

[boozeboxer]

What about MAB













Just kidding. Good looking list.

[armyash]

Good list and pleased to see vargas placed quite high too.

I reckon Guerrero and Ortiz have enough time to move up over the next few years.

Would like to see Juan Diaz get back on form

[marbleheadmaui]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

I think you got most of the right names. I'd argue Carlos Palomino belongs even though born in Mexico. He moved to the US as a toddler IIRC. Isn't the same true of the Ruelas' Brothers? If Margarito is excluded, shouldn't these guys be included? But, your list, your criteria.

Here are some that would be on my list. Oscar Alborado (154 strapholder), Raul Marquez (154 strapholder), Ernie Lopez was a tremendous welter and fought for the undisputed crown twice, Jaime Garza (122 strapholder), how about Tony Ayala Junior?, Hell Mike Ayala was far more accomplished than Victor Ortiz.

But again, my compliments. Our debate would be over the last 7-8 names out of 25.

The bad news is you have the order screwed up in my view. The first two are too high, as is Tony Lopez while Art Aragon, Manuel Ortiz, Mando Ramos are too low. I'd move some other guys around too. A valiant effort though.

I'd love to talk more, but I'll be busy fucking myself for a while now.

[Andre]

Swap Diego C around with Fernando V make me happier.

Just always thought Varges over rated himself I've never had faith in his mental attitude.

Glad you got Carbajal up high up there.

[generalbulldog]

It's all about the Paisa bro.

[Violent Demise]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

I think you got most of the right names. I'd argue Carlos Palomino belongs even though born in Mexico. He moved to the US as a toddler IIRC. Isn't the same true of the Ruelas' Brothers? If Margarito is excluded, shouldn't these guys be included? But, your list, your criteria.

Here are some that would be on my list. Oscar Alborado (154 strapholder), Raul Marquez (154 strapholder), Ernie Lopez was a tremendous welter and fought for the undisputed crown twice, Jaime Garza (122 strapholder), how about Tony Ayala Junior?, Hell Mike Ayala was far more accomplished than Victor Ortiz.

But again, my compliments. Our debate would be over the last 7-8 names out of 25.

The bad news is you have the order screwed up in my view. The first two are too high, as is Tony Lopez while Art Aragon, Manuel Ortiz, Mando Ramos are too low. I'd move some other guys around too. A valiant effort though.

I'd love to talk more, but I'll be busy fucking myself for a while now.

The Ruelas brothers have been called and considered Mexican fighters a lot of times. Margarito I don't think has ever been called a Mexican-American fighter before. So I excluded them just for that reason

I stand by my placements (who would you have 1 & 2?). Oscar has his critics. But they can't change facts. Decorated amateur career that included an Olympic Gold Medal and several other championships. As a pro he won 10 championships in 6 weight classes. He defeated 20 title holders and 2 ATG (should of been 4). Not to mention after Tyson and before Mayweather/Pacquiao Oscar pretty much carried Boxing on his back. Canizales is a Hall of Famer. He made i believe a total of 16 title defenses. He cleaned out the Batamweight division. He finished at 50-5. But that very easily could of been 54-1. His last 4 losses were all by SD that easily could of gone his way. The man had an iron chin. To my knowledge I don't think he was ever dropped. Can't recall.

Ortiz I have at 3. I don't consider that low. Ramos was a difficult one. I originally had him top 5 when I started. I gave him a lot of credit for challenging for a title at 18 years old I believe it was. And for winning it at 20. What hurt him was he didn't do much as champion and the fact that he was pretty much washed up at 24 years old. What hurt the original Golden Boy Art Aragon was never being champion. He was hella popular. And if it came down to who banged the most best looking broads it's a 3 man race between him, De La Hoya and Ramos. Sadly for him that's not the case

There are some fighters I left out that could easily be swapped in. The Ayala's, Raul Marquez, Garza, Alborado and maybe even Steven Luevano. I also do think I might of reached a little to much on Louie Espinosa. But I'm satisfied. The Mexican list will be much, much tougher

Swap Diego C around with Fernando V make me happier.

Just always thought Varges over rated himself I've never had faith in his mental attitude.

Glad you got Carbajal up high up there.

Corrales was a little tough. I didn't wanna over place him just cuz he's deceased. At the same time he did have good accomplishments. I could swap him with Vargas and be ok with it. I mean I understand people's views on Vargas. And he did underacheve a little. And his career was kind of short. But he did fight Yory Boy Campas, Raul Marquez, Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Wilfredo Rivera, Ricardo Mayorga, Winky Wright and Shane Mosley in that short career

[No Contest]

I thought Corrales was Puerto rican, but he's part Columbian, part Mexican. So does he count for this list?

[Violent Demise]

I thought Corrales was Puerto rican, but he's part Columbian, part Mexican. So does he count for this list?

His mom is Mexican

[No Contest]

It's a good list. I'm stumped trying to think of someone that isnt on the list that should be.

[No Contest]

Rios and Mickey Garcia may be worthy once they get a few more big fights under their belts. Theres also up and comers like Mike Alvarado, Danny Garcia and Jesse Vargas, who may have a shot at breaking into the top 25.

[UKPH]

Informative...VD is there really a Mexican and American-Mex rivalry? can you name some, aside from infamous ODLH-JCC Sr.

Btw former champion Steve Luevano is also American-Mexican right?

[greynotsoold]

I always thought that Alberto Sandoval was a better fighter than Richie, despite the championship, and I'd go with Antonio or Julio Diaz over Luevano.

[marbleheadmaui]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

I think you got most of the right names. I'd argue Carlos Palomino belongs even though born in Mexico. He moved to the US as a toddler IIRC. Isn't the same true of the Ruelas' Brothers? If Margarito is excluded, shouldn't these guys be included? But, your list, your criteria.

Here are some that would be on my list. Oscar Alborado (154 strapholder), Raul Marquez (154 strapholder), Ernie Lopez was a tremendous welter and fought for the undisputed crown twice, Jaime Garza (122 strapholder), how about Tony Ayala Junior?, Hell Mike Ayala was far more accomplished than Victor Ortiz.

But again, my compliments. Our debate would be over the last 7-8 names out of 25.

The bad news is you have the order screwed up in my view. The first two are too high, as is Tony Lopez while Art Aragon, Manuel Ortiz, Mando Ramos are too low. I'd move some other guys around too. A valiant effort though.

I'd love to talk more, but I'll be busy fucking myself for a while now.

The Ruelas brothers have been called and considered Mexican fighters a lot of times. Margarito I don't think has ever been called a Mexican-American fighter before. So I excluded them just for that reason

I stand by my placements (who would you have 1 & 2?). Oscar has his critics. But they can't change facts. Decorated amateur career that included an Olympic Gold Medal and several other championships. As a pro he won 10 championships in 6 weight classes. He defeated 20 title holders and 2 ATG (should of been 4). Not to mention after Tyson and before Mayweather/Pacquiao Oscar pretty much carried Boxing on his back. Canizales is a Hall of Famer. He made i believe a total of 16 title defenses. He cleaned out the Batamweight division. He finished at 50-5. But that very easily could of been 54-1. His last 4 losses were all by SD that easily could of gone his way. The man had an iron chin. To my knowledge I don't think he was ever dropped. Can't recall.

Ortiz I have at 3. I don't consider that low. Ramos was a difficult one. I originally had him top 5 when I started. I gave him a lot of credit for challenging for a title at 18 years old I believe it was. And for winning it at 20. What hurt him was he didn't do much as champion and the fact that he was pretty much washed up at 24 years old. What hurt the original Golden Boy Art Aragon was never being champion. He was hella popular. And if it came down to who banged the most best looking broads it's a 3 man race between him, De La Hoya and Ramos. Sadly for him that's not the case

There are some fighters I left out that could easily be swapped in. The Ayala's, Raul Marquez, Garza, Alborado and maybe even Steven Luevano. I also do think I might of reached a little to much on Louie Espinosa. But I'm satisfied. The Mexican list will be much, much tougher

Swap Diego C around with Fernando V make me happier.

Just always thought Varges over rated himself I've never had faith in his mental attitude.

Glad you got Carbajal up high up there.

Corrales was a little tough. I didn't wanna over place him just cuz he's deceased. At the same time he did have good accomplishments. I could swap him with Vargas and be ok with it. I mean I understand people's views on Vargas. And he did underacheve a little. And his career was kind of short. But he did fight Yory Boy Campas, Raul Marquez, Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Wilfredo Rivera, Ricardo Mayorga, Winky Wright and Shane Mosley in that short career

Like I sad, your list, your criteria. I think the #1 is Manuel Ortiz by a mile. Being a THE MAN champion in a time of eight divisions and eight champions and defending that title as many times as Ortiz did is THE qunitessential boxing measure of excellence in my view. What makes defending a championship that way so special is it becomes IMPOSSIBLE to cherry pick styles advantageous to you. It is the "I can lick any SOB in the house" idea that is the cornerstone of the sport.

The ten belts in six division crap is just that, crap. You are either THE MAN in a given division or you are not. Oscar is a fine fighter, but he shouldn't get credit because the sport has idluted what "champion" means. It is like equating division championships in baseball with winning the world series. In the same way you punsh Art Aragon for not being a champion. It's true, but he was fighting in a time when the sport had EIGHT champs. Canizales is a function of the explosion of belts. A good fighter who not only didn't clean out the divisaion, he never fought the great challenge of his time in his division. Aragon defeated twice as many ranked guys. I agree Mando is a toughie. But he DFID become THE MAN at his weight, something Canizales (for example) never did.

Again, thanks for the post. It makes for thinking.

[CutMeMick]

Where's Arreola?

Good list VD...

For me personally I've never rated Guerrero I feel he's just found ways to get the wins.
Still think he found the easy way out vs. Cino.
Could be just that I had predicted Cino to beat him and that I wanted it to happen badly.

He does nothing special in the ring that leads me to believe he can stay as a champ when facing the top guys in a weight class.
As long as he continues fighting opponents ranked between 6-15 he'll continue to win.

I think I would have Mares somewhere there on the bottom side of the list.
How about Juan Lazcano... Honor mentions?