Most Popular Fighter's in Mexican History?

True point. It's tough to identify with a guy when he personifies another flag ... I actually did not know Duran was half Mexican until I read it in his segment from "In This Corner." I have never even heard it mentioned anywhere else.

 

it is because duran is not half mexican. his father was mexican. cholo is 100% panamanian.

 

You have to appreciate Mexican boxing. Mexico loves their fighters. In Mexico the sport is sometimes passed down from family members to younger children.

It is hard to pick the most popular Mexican fighter. Mabye J.C. Chavez. Maybe Lopez.

 

Chavez, Cuevas, Sanchez, Napoles, Lopez, Olivares......and many more to come.

 

Maybe someone can clue me in here, but I would have thought Erik Morales, with his fan friendly style in the ring, his top notch boxing skills, and obvious love of the game, would have been wildly popular.

Not my part of the world though.

Maybe someone could tell me.





NB: I think the obvious choice would be Chavez for no.1 spot.

 

The most popular was Chavez by a mile or two, but the greatest was SALVADOR SANCHEZ, also by a mile or two.

 

I consider Jose Napoles to be Cuban, despite the fact that he fought out of Mexico.

 

................Strangely enough, I think Chavez was both the best and most popular.

 

Raul "Raton" Macias was wildly popular in his day and may have been the first real boxing hero that Mexico had. He won the Bronze medal at the 1951 Pan American and was the only bright light on what was otherwise an abysmal Mexican team and he became a hero in Mexico as a result. He was one of Mexico TV`s first attractions as well and several of his fights were filmed and broadcast nationwide.

Interestingly enough he was born in the same barrio as Ruben Olivares and he wasn`t even a full blooded Mexican... his parents were Cuban! I find it ironic how two of the most popular sporting heroes in Mexican history weren`t even Mexican by birth but rather Cuban expats who had moved there to pursue their boxing careers. Just goes to show that everyone loves a winner no matter where he is from as long as he is on your side and not the other guys.

 

I think "El Ratón" is a strong contender for truly the most popular fighter in his day. Entertainment and information options were not as varied as even in the '80s, Chavez's heyday, so in Mexico the prebout hype was hotter than a jalapeño. My dad has told me people would pray fervently for a Ratón victory.

On the other hand, guys like Ratón and even Olivares were IMHO probably more truly beloved than Chavez, who was certainly admired, but IMO not truly loved. Chavez's personality never endeared him to his countrymen in the fashion of the humble Ratón, who is famous for his oft-repeated phrase, "I owe it all to my manager...and the dear Virgin of Guadalupe!"