Pearls of the Orient: The 20 greatest fighters to have come from the far East

Mendoza, I know Ceferino Garcia won middleweight, but Chong Pal Park and In Chul Baek took super middle. I can't think if there's anymore.

Scartissue

 

Masahiko "Fighting" Harada, by far, with honorable mention going to Masao Ohba, and many of the other greats mentioned.

 

Scartissue,

You are somewhat new to this forum, but it seems like you know your stuff! I never heard of Park. I’ll check him out.

 

How do you think he would have fared against Ohba or Arbachakov?.

 

I don't think Samarat Payakarun was a waste of talent while I agree his boxing career could have been greater he is widely regarded as one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters he is like a god in Thailand because he was a champion in both sports. He is one of the greatest fighters to ever fight in the Lumpinee which is saying a lot considering that is like the Mecca of Muay Thai.

 

I think he would lose to both of them. Ohba was a fine boxer-puncher with an immaculate jab but who wasn`t afraid of getting in there and sugging it out if the situation called for it which and against Pone he would have been more aggressive I`m sure.

The Thai didn`t have the power to really trouble him either and since Masao was faster of both hand and foot than Pone and I can see one of his sudden and explosive offensive outburts nailing him with something big and taking him out soon afterwards.

Against Yuri I think Pone would have success initially, until the Russian`s steady pressure and body attack sees him wear and slow down the Thailander enough to land something big and get him out of there late in the fight, say in the last third of a bout he is possibly trailing behind on points in.

How do you see those bouts unfolding?

 

I tend to agree he loses to both.

Ohba is just better and more complete in a similar style.

Arbachakov's better footwork, power and slightly better defence give him the edge.

 

great list. btw how would you rate gerry penalosa?you also seem to have missed ceferino garcia

 

I am guessing the money was good enough to sign the contract in the first place... At the end of the day you should be in this sport for money first, legacy (a distant) second.

 

Mantequilla,

I am guessing you have seen a fair bit of footage on Shozo Saijzo, if so what are your impressions of him? His star shone quite brightly for a few years and he had a nice albeit brief run as champ, before fading from the world scene. But at his peak this guy was some fighter, a tall/rangy boxer-puncher with good legs and a real fighting spirit. He did some paint job on tough Raul Rojas to win the title, the fight wasn`t even close and Raul was no pushover by any means. I say he gives most featherweights a real hard nights work at his best, although against the big bangers his chin might not hold up.

What say you?

 

While not an all time great--Chatchai Sasakul was definitely a very skilled boxer who defeated Arbachakov later in his career.. Sasakul was then frozen out of getting a shot at a big fight for a long time and had his chance of a great career dminished but i think he was a great fighter... i would have loved to see him and Gerry Penalosa fight when both of thm were younger..

 

Sasakul was indeed an excellent fighter, I enjoyed his style a great deal and that first fight against Arbachakov was a beautiful display of skill and boxing ability. In the return however Yuri was soundly beaten, but by then his eye problems had come full circle and he retired immediately after the fight. I still remember how he was making a complete ****** out of Pacquiao in their fight until he got overconfident and got nailed with a big punch that hurt him and shortly afterwards the finishing left hand landed right on the point of his chin knocking him senseless. Good fighter though who should have gotten more exposure this side of the pond, he would have made for some good fights with his style.

 

Harada is getting way too much credit for his wins over jofre, honestly his resume really doesnt have alot of depth. You can argue pacquaio and elorde have a deeper volume of accomplishments because they did fight and defeat more ranked opponents.