Greatest Bantamweight of all time? Eder Jofre

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Brian123, Sep 4, 2008.


  1. Drew101

    Drew101 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    29,769
    8,297
    Feb 11, 2005
    Zarate, Olivares, and Jofre are the three most logical choices, with Jofre being my person number one.
     
  2. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

    27,199
    93
    Dec 26, 2007
    I rate Zarate clearly behind Jofre and Olivares personally.
     
  3. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    28,075
    54
    Oct 15, 2007
    Take a look at the thread i made addressed to you!
     
  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,577
    27,222
    Feb 15, 2006
    He has a claim as good as anybody at that weight.

    For my money his main rival for the honours is George Dixon.

    There is a century separating them.
     
  5. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    Zarate's KO percentage makes it easy to slightly overrate him, in my opinion.
     
  6. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    28,075
    54
    Oct 15, 2007
    Its subjective, while Jofre is most likely (and imo) better than Zarate, Zarate was very prolific in his own time and era. Its also arguable he never lost at the weight, i personally found the Pintor bout the hardest to judge of any ive seen, still havent gotten around to doing it again!
     
  7. Raging B(_)LL

    Raging B(_)LL KAPOW!!! Full Member

    2,675
    47
    Jul 19, 2004
    Perhaps Jofre was the best at the weight, but between 1955-75 the lower weight classes, particularly at bantamweight, were as tough as any other twenty year span in history and was full of good to great fighters. And how come no one has made any mention of Manuel Ortiz when talking about great batams?

    Ortiz liked to drink, and would blow up to lightweight and take on guys like Lauro Salas, then sweat back down to 118lbs. He could compete with world ranked lightweights carrying a soft belly and defeated many of them as well. Of course, Olivares also drank himself outta the bantam division.

    This makes a good case for those who choose Jofre as best, since he was ALWAYS in top shape. At his peak there wasn`t anything this man couldn`t do, and what is especially impressive about the man is that Jofre left the game after a long career, came back a few years later, this time a full division heavier, and defeated some great featherweights easily.

    He put an end to the great Vicente Saldivar by knocking him out in four rounds which is an incredible achievement considering his age at the time. In my opinion there is so little seperating Jofre/Olivares/Zarate/Ortiz that on any given night either of these men could have defeated the other. Jofre has a good case for #1, but I wouldn`t argue with anyone who has Olivares or Ortiz there instead.
     
  8. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    28,075
    54
    Oct 15, 2007
    I have Ortiz in my top 5 at the weight, not sure how to rank them moreso as i learn more of their careers. Just havent seen enough footage of Ortiz, but was the best of his era from what i can make of it, elite level bantam of the sport's history, meaning very top tier.

    Yeah, Jofre past his best came back and never lost a bout again, Jose Legra being one of his best conquests at feather also.
     
  9. The Funny Man 7

    The Funny Man 7 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,868
    2,048
    Apr 1, 2005
    Well-rounded in every aspect of the game.
     
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,982
    48,059
    Mar 21, 2007
    No love for Terry McGovern?
     
  11. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    28,075
    54
    Oct 15, 2007
    One of the finest,
     
  12. Raging B(_)LL

    Raging B(_)LL KAPOW!!! Full Member

    2,675
    47
    Jul 19, 2004
    Not from Young Corbetts end thats for sure!
     
  13. Brian123

    Brian123 ESB WORLD CHAMPION Full Member

    2,765
    3
    Feb 16, 2008
    McGovern is #2 in my book.
     
  14. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,495
    2,150
    Oct 22, 2006
    Sorry, I do not swing that way!

    But seriously he was a phenomenon of the era, an all-time top 50 pound for pound, and easily top 10 118lber in my book.
     
  15. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

    55,255
    10,354
    Jun 29, 2007
    #1 for me. McGovern was a Tyson like fighter at bantam. In his prime, he was a real attack dog with skills.