The 10 Greatest Bantamweights

And that means a decade worth of new people vying for the top ten spots, which can only place people further down on the list.

Many of the IBRO guys are lower weight boxing fans. Boxing under lightweight doesn't interest me as much, but I do appreciate some bantams, many of who can punch for their weight and go after each other.

If you can find me non Aussie historians who think that highly of Rose, it will be something new for me.

 

Rose in the top 10 sounds fair IMO. His flame burned too fast but he got some quality work in.

I think Jofre is the best ever at Bantamweight. In fact I think alongside Willie Pep the greatest fighter under lightweight in history.

 

Well, Flea and McGrain are both non Aussies, both are well versed in lower weight divisions (probably more so than most of the IBRO members were), and both have Rose within their respective Top 10 lists of ATG bantams. And I'm certain that both were taking modern bantamweights and their accomplishments into consideration when creating said lists.

You can blindly adhere to a decade old list...Or you watch Rose fight on Youtube and judge for yourself. I know which option I'd pick.

 

Just out of curiosity, which modern bantamweight comes closest to cracking the Top 10?

Sahaprom...?
Hasegawa...?
Yamanaka...?
Anyone else?

 

I can't guess as to who you are going to place where, only say where I have them, and where the vast majority has them, which pretty much would exclude the name Rose.

115 or 118? The difference for me is a night out and a large meal. Keep in mind back then, fighters fought much closer to their walk around weight. Today, a bantam might be say a feather weight ( 126 pounds ) on fight night after his re-hydration process. This is a full two division jump.

I'll give you my top 5

1. Jofre - The gold standard. Perhaps the easiest #1 to call in any division.

2. Olivares - A Mexican warrior, perhaps their best ever. Nearly unbeatable at bantam. Losses are mostly at feather.

3. McGovern, and absolute terror in his prime years. Wins over Dixon, and Gans are tough to beat.

4. Zarte. A huge puncher. I don't count his comeback out of the ring for 5 years against his legacy

5. Brown - Extremely tough, and very tall for his weight class with good movement skills. He had a very long career.

I do not wish to foil you here, rather its a chance to learn something new. Good luck, and yes I will be watching the world bantam weight super series. With the fighters not having a lot on their resumes, calling a winner here will be very hard. Donaire is the big name in the tournament. If he wins it, he's going to the hall of fame for sure. But he's very old for this weight class. ( 35 ).

 

I am sure it is a huge venture in both energy and time, but I would love to request a follow up series on flyweight.

 

Manuel Ortiz ^^^^

Edit: that is my guess I would go Zarate I think off the top of my head

 

I won't try to guess, who you have specifically as #9 (it would be pure luck, if I got it right) - but instead I'll try to predict all the names (in no particular order) you have ahead of Rose.

Since you have already told us, that no one from the last 20 years makes the list, and hinted that Kid Williams is included, this is my guess for the remaining 8 names:

Jofre
Olivares
Zarate
Harada
McGovern
Ortiz
Brown
Herman

But then again; I'm a bit surprised to see Rose in 10th place - so I'm not really sure, what to expect!

 

I'll say. I had a few good nights out on the strength of Fleaman tipping me Srisaket to beat Chocolito on points at 25-1 Good times.